Road repairs around the clock

Roads across the Western Bay are now open after torrential rain caused flooding and slips.

The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) and contractors are working day and night to clear roads affected by the bad weather, which hit the Bay of Plenty on Sunday and Monday.

State Highway 2 at Athenree is now open. The road was closed on Monday after both lanes were blocked by a slip.

NZTA said both lanes through the gorge were now open and speed restrictions would remain in place until all slip material had been removed.

Further north, the Karangahake Gorge on State Highway 2 between Waihi and Paeroa is open to single lane access while road crews continue to clean up. In some areas of the gorge, both lanes were swamped by flood waters as the river rose to unusually high levels.

In Papamoa, both lanes on State Highway 2 between Bruce Rd and Domain Rd are open during the day.

Repair work will take place from 7pm to 6am. During this time one lane will be open. Motorists can travel along the south-bound lane while north-bound motorists will face a detour.

Two lane access would be reinstated each morning.

NZTA acting state highway manager Karen Boyt said speed restrictions would remain in place until necessary repairs to the road surface were completed.

She said road works around the Western Bay were weather dependent and the clean up was likely to continue for the remainder of the week.

"We are still asking drivers to take extreme care on the highways while we are clearing slips and reinstating access to state highways closed around the region due to the severe weather event earlier this week. Please drive to the conditions, and allow more time for your journey so that you can reach your destination safely."

Motorists can phone the NZTA's freephone 0800 4 HIGHWAYS or 0800 44 44 49, or visit its website www.highwayinfo.govt.nz for up-to-the-minute information on road conditions.