Green light for State Highway 2 realignment project

An artist’s impression of the new 160-metre-long arch bridge over Waikari River on State Highway 2 between Wairoa and Napier.Image supplied

Consent has been lodged for the Waikare Gorge realignment project to bypass six kilometres of the existing State Highway 2, including the slip- and rockfall-prone Waikare Gorge between Wairoa and Napier.

The realignment project will include 3.9km of new road and a 160-metre-long arch bridge, approximately 60 metres above the Waikari river, west of the existing 6km section of SH2.

Waka Kotahi regional manager of infrastructure delivery Rob Partridge said the devastation caused by the cyclone and the destruction of the gorge bridge had shown how crucial the realignment project was.

A new Bailey bridge has been installed and the road has reopened to daytime traffic between Wairoa and Napier.

Roading contractors continue to work on other damaged sites, as Waka Kotahi works towards opening the road 24/7.

“This project will make this section of the road resilient and safer, and lead to more consistent travel times.

“We’ve been working on this project since before the cyclone and funding to date has come as part of the Provincial Growth Fund first announced in 2020. Progress has been made possible in a large part, thanks to the continued support from local communities.

“The past three months has shown us that whenever this section of SH2 is closed, for whatever reason, the impact on Wairoa and Hawke’s Bay is huge.

“Even before the cyclone, this area has been prone to slips and rockfall, so a safer and more resilient journey over the gorge should help with more consistent and reliable journeys,” Mr Partridge said.

“An added benefit of the realignment project is that there will be minimal disruption to the existing road and road users, something I’m sure the communities in this area will welcome after the past few months.”