Western Bay of Plenty acting road policing manager, Sergeant Mark Holmes, said people should avoid the area if possible.
"We appreciate that some people may already be travelling in the area, so our advice to those wishing to travel to Te Puke, Papamoa or Mt Maunganui should leave SH2 and travel up Te Matai Rd and travel back down Number 1 Rd to Te Puke," he said.
"Those people on SH2 wishing to travel to Tauranga should leave SH2 and travel up Te Matai Rd and onto Pyes Pa Rd."
Mr Holmes said the road will remain closed "for some time".