SH2 to close during work hours for four days to remove trees

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

Work will take place over four days in the next fortnight to remove hazardous trees alongside State Highway 2 north of Te Karaka.

“The trees have become a hazard to road users, following the weekend’s weather event, as the heavy rainfall has made the ground around them unstable,” Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency Hawke’s Bay  Tairāwhiti system manager Martin Colditz said.

An estimated 200 truckloads of trees would need to be removed during each closure.

“Specialist contractors will initially be working onsite next Monday  (July 17) and Tuesday (July 18) to remove the trees. They’ll need to return to site the following Monday (July 24) and Tuesday (July 25) to repeat the process.

“During the closure, the trees will be felled and removed from the road. Some will be mulched onsite, while others will be taken away to be mulched elsewhere.

“A section of SH2 between Whatatutu Road and Makaretu Road will close between 8.30am and 4.30pm­ during these days to accommodate the safe removal of the trees.”

The road would remain open outside those hours.

In addition to keeping the road open outside working hours, there will be a daily convoy (lasting one hour, between midday and 1pm). The convoy will leave Whatatutu Road at midday. The convoy will depart Makaretu Road in the opposite direction at 12.30pm.

“Stop/go traffic control will remain in place following the closures for the safety of all road users.

“This is a crucial stretch of road for communities and for the freight industry. We want to minimise disruption as much as possible.”