A slip on Te Puke Quarry Rd is being cleared by contractors busy with multiple slips throughout the Bay today. Photo/John Borren
A slip on Te Puke Quarry Rd is being cleared by contractors busy with multiple slips throughout the Bay today. Photo/John Borren
Road closures brought on by Cyclone Cook are plaguing Tauranga-bound motorists, many of whom have been unable to get to their destination due to slips.
State Highway 29 was closed after a major slip on the Waikato side of the Kaimai Range but is now fully reopened.
It was opened to one lane before lunch after being completely closed overnight.
Cranes get to work on a large slip on SH29. Photo/supplied
State Highway 2 in the Karangahake Gorge has been partially closed, with traffic able to travel through on one lane. It was expected to fully reopen about 3pm.
Many roads around the Western Bay of Plenty were either closed or partially blocked and it was highly likely people would need to take diversions or wait longer than usual to get to where they needed to go.
Other roads closed included Grenada St/Sandhurst Dr, Welcome Bay Rd - closed from Rocky Cutting Rd to Te Puke Highway, State Highway 2 closed at Bruce Rd eastbound after Otamarakau, and Kauri Point Rd which was closed due to a large slip.
A large slip blocking SH29. Photo/supplied
Slips at Te Puna Quarry Rd and Harbour Dr in Omokoroa were also being assessed.
In the Eastern Bay, State Highway 34 was closed at Otakiri between Edgecumbe and Te Teko because of fallen power lines and should reopen late this afternoon.
State Highway 2 near Pikowai camping ground on the Matata straight was closed because of fallen tree and powerlines and was expected to reopen today.
Civil Defence was expecting to open SH2 Edgecumbe by tomorrow following the devastation caused by Cyclone Debbie.
Tauranga City Council and Western Bay of Plenty District Council urged people to take care and to stay at home and off the roads if possible.
In a statement the council asked people to treat all downed power lines as live and to stay clear of any that were on the ground or low-hanging. If people saw sewage overflows, slips, or downed trees, report them to the local council, either Western Bay of Plenty District Council on 07 571 8008 or 0800 WBOPDC or email customerservice@westernbay.govt.nz. OR Tauranga City Council on 07 577 7000 or email info@tauranga.govt.nz.
