Northland road closures

NorthPower linesmen are stopped by flooding on Otonga Rd north of Whangarei this afternoon.

Northland has seen plenty of rain today and as a result many of the region's roads are closed or going under flood waters.

Here is what Whangarei District Council have released as of 5pm today:

Otaika Valley Road: Open but left lane flooded at Loop Road end and close to the one-way bridge, passable with high vehicles.

Otonga Marua Road: Both lanes under water but passable with high vehicle in middle of road.
Whananaki North Road: Closed 8km from SH 1.

(Old) Russell Road: Closed between Papakauri and Whangaruru Wharf Road. Road under water too deep for camper.

Station Road: Open, use caution near Corks Rd intersection.

Jordan Valley Road: Open; passable but rising 2-300m from SH1.

Otaika Valley Road/Cemetery Road: Open but only logging trucks getting through.

Snooks Road: Open; passable with extreme car outside 183.
passable with extreme care
Morningside Road: Open; Passable on opposite side of the road in front of Morningside Park.

Riverside Drive: Open; passable at BP Riverside.

Waiotu Block Rd, Hukerenui: Closed, down to one lane at Tapuhi Road.

Whareora Road: Open but down to one lane between Clapham Road and Abbey Caves Road.

Kara Road: Closed 6.1k from top of Kara Road.

Russell Road: Open; passable with extreme care heading North on Russell Road just past Pigs Head Road.

Mangakahia Road: Closed at Pakotai.

Also add these two pointers to websites below

Information about any local district council road and State Highway closures/issues in Northland is available from the Automobile Association website via www.AAroadwatch.co.nz

The site contains a map and brief description of closed/affected roads and an indication of when the issue/s involved is likely to be resolved.

General Civil Defence information is available from the Northland CDEM Group's Facebook page - www.facebook.com/civildefencenorthland - and from the Northland Regional Council website www.nrc.govt.nz/civildefence

And now for the Far North:

As of 4pm today more than 40 mostly rural roads were closed or described as passable with caution. Closures included Oromahoe Rd, Waiomio Rd and Towai-Maromaku Rd. Roads in Pangaru, Waimatenui, Okaihau and Broadwood were also shut. A tree brought down by high winds closed Horeke Rd for an hour.

The concern was that high tide, around 5.30pm, would push already swollen rivers over a number of key Far North roads. Police and roading contractors were keeping a close eye on State Highway 10 at Kaeo, which was already partly inundated at 4pm, and State Highway 12 at Taheke.

The New Zealand Transport Agency, which is responsible for state highways, said it could be forced to close SH10 if the combination of high tide and heavy rain put people at risk.