State highway 25 re-opens for light vehicle traffic only

Waka Kotahi says SH25 between Hikuai and Whangamata has re-opened for light vehicle use only, under stop-go traffic management. Drivers should expect delays while contractors continue working to stabilise the road and widen the surface.

The road was closed early Monday morning following a washout caused by heavy rain over the weekend.

The fresh flash floods forced the closure of a section of one of Coromandel’s main highways with no detours available

State Highway 25 was shut between Hikuai and Whangamatā due to the washout but was opened again on Monday evening.

A further update on progress towards re-opening the road for heavy vehicles is expected later Tuesday morning.

Fire crews in Tauranga were called to 10 properties for flooding between 11pm and 1am on Sunday night

They included flooded houses and a garage, crews assisted occupants and pumped water.

A part of SH25 Hikuai to Whangamatā has washed out after a night of heavy rain. Photo / Jack Zimmerman Campbell

Whangamatā resident Jack Zimmerman Campbell told the Herald the rain gauge at the golf course where he works showed about 112 mm of rain fell overnight on Sunday

“A few houses have been flooded down Kiwi Rd. We have also had to pump out water from a house next to the golf course.

Meteorologist Peter Little said westerly and easterly winds had met to form a line of thunderstorms causing heavy localised rain in parts of Coromandel and the Bay of Plenty.

It was possible that some areas might have had over 100mm of rain, he said.

“Not much rain was recorded in the gauge but looking at the radar Whitianga till western Bay of Plenty there was more than 50mm of rain.

“The weather station Golden Valley northeast of Waihi recorded 31mm in the hour to 11pm and it has 57mm from 9pm until midnight.”

Little said the rain was easing gradually as the Monday went by.

“The good news is, the situation has changed, and the thunderstorm has moved offshore. Gradually conditions are improving. There is dry weather for much of the week.”

The highway was reopened end of last month from both sides after access was cut off during Cyclone Gabrielle.

A main route through the Coromandel Peninsula was closed after several severe weather events in just weeks.

State Highway 25A Kopu to Hikuai was washed out near the summit during heavy rain on the Coromandel Peninsula at the end of January. Photo / Philip Hart

State Highway 25A is one of the main tourist routes for holidaymakers heading to the Thames-Coromandel region, but it was closed in January after the formation of deep cracks, slips and flooding damage from ex-Cyclone Hale.

The road is expected to be closed for up to a year.

Ensure you maintain a good following distance between other vehicles. In bad weather increase your following distance to allow more time for stopping.

For updates on road closures, and to plan ahead for potential delays caused by slips or roadworks visit www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz