Resilience enhancements and asphalting works to cause overnight road closures on SH2

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Motorists who intend to use State Highway 2 north next week are reminded that there will be overnight road closures on a section of the highway starting on Monday (June 19).

Waka Kotahi NZTA has plans for up to four weeks of overnight closures from north of Matawai to Traffords Hill near Te Wera Road, from 7pm to 5am each night.

The closures are part of improvements to the resilience of State Highway 2 from Gisborne to Waioeka Gorge as part of the Government’s initial fund for cyclone-related emergency repairs and road works.

Alongside the foamed bitumen stabilisation works already underway, an asphalting programme to further strengthen and protect the highway for the future is scheduled to begin from Monday.

The work is expected to be complete by the end of September.

Road users have seen stop/go traffic controls in place in that area this week while preparations were carried out.

The asphalting works will be carried out at night between 7pm and 5am, seven days a week.

It will start at the northern-most site, near the entrance to the Waioeka Gorge, with full closures in place.