Sinkhole closes State Highway 50 near Napier, diversions in place

State Highway 50 along Hyderabad Rd in Napier was closed on Monday afternoon after a sinkhole formed. Photo / Paul Taylor

Part of State Highway 50 and one of Napier's main roads has been temporarily closed due to a sinkhole forming.

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency posted an update on its website advising motorists that Hyderabad Rd was closed between Corunna Bay north and Corunna Bay south for southbound traffic from about 3pm on Monday.

A detour is in place for southbound traffic, via SH50, turning left on to Corunna Bay, then left back on to SH50.

The northbound lane remains open.

A police spokesperson confirmed they were notified of the sinkhole shortly before 3pm.

She advised the road was closed until further notice though a diversion was in place and contractors were in attendance.

Police were notifed of the sinkhole formation in the southbound lane of Hyderabad Rd, shortly before 3pm on Monday. Photo / NZTA

Patrice Morris, of Napier, was driving along the road on her way to get a Covid-19 vaccine when she came across the sinkhole.

"It seemed deep, about the size of a large wheel," she said.

"The tarmac was folded under into the hole."

Morris praised the efforts of a man who directed traffic away from the sinkhole, believing it would have "collapsed" under traffic.

A Napier City Council spokesperson said the sinkhole had a visible diameter of about 1 metre but contractors were investigating what the situation was below the road.

"We have teams on site diverting the wastewater and the road will remain closed for the time being.

"Our teams are working on this with urgency and we expect them to be onsite, working under lights, into the night to rectify the situation."

She confirmed there were no issues relating to people or vehicles resulting from the sinkhole formation.

"We are investigating the situation and it would only be speculation to say how it has happened."

NZTA has been approached for further comment.

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