Hawke's Bay roads dodge weather bullet

The weekend rain and wind left the region's highway systems alone. Photo / Duncan Brown

Hawke's Bay's highway network has escaped strong wind and rain damage although some urban streets were left littered with snapped branches over the weekend.

"We dodged a bullet," NZ Transport Agency regional journey manager Oliver Postings said.

"We had no reports of any damage," he said, adding that the worst of the forecast bad weather stayed clear, and although more southern areas had been affected more badly.

Strong winds had been reported across areas of SH5 between Napier and Taupo but caused no issues for traffic.

As they did during times of forecast severe weather road crews were on stand-by but were not called on.

The remnants of slips along the northern stretch of SH2 through to Wairoa after the belts of heavy rain a few weeks ago had all been cleared and no more had been reported.

The only "disruption" to major roading projects - like the Links Rd/expressway roundabout and the Whakatu link - would have been "a few cones blown around," Mr Postings said.

Both roading projects were on schedule and had not been affected by the latest bout of wild weather.

Work was also set to be wrapped up by the end of todayat the intersection of SH2 and Awatoto Rd where repair work was being carried out to the rail crossing.

The Awatoto Rd link to the highway was closed on Sunday but is set to be re-opened when completed.