Progress in West Auckland post-flooding

West Aucklanders can be assured the council is working on getting roads up and running after intense flooding last month.

Auckland Council said progress was being made to relieve congestion through New Lynn, caused by damage to Great North Rd near Clark St.

Weather that battered the North Island on March 12 and 20 blocked the culvert at Clark St.

This caused the road and footpath above it to fail.

A massive hole in the pavement outside Bike Barn opened up when the area on Great North Rd was submerged in chest-high water.

The council said their healthy waters department was in the process of installing a second pipe alongside the blocked culvert.

From there, repair works could continue on site with the goal to reopen the intersection as soon as possible.

As part of the department's regular hotspot maintenance programme, it had begun clearing blocked inlets, outlets, catchpits and ponds that are known to contribute to flooding issues.

Director of environmental and infrastructure services Barry Potter said the Council's priority was to get New Lynn back up and running.

"We are committed to resolving the issues caused by these severe weather events and repairing the culvert as quickly as we can. In the meantime, we encourage people to use alternative routes or trains."

Potter said over the next few days the council would be meeting with local businesses and others to update them on progress and measures planned to alleviate the situation.

Road access along Great North Rd, between Titirangi Rd and Clark St, remains closed.

Alternative routes have been signposted for motorists and pedestrians.

City-bound, the detour is Rata St through to Rosebank Rd, and west-bound, Wolverton St through Portage Rd and Margan Ave.

Auckland Transport said to support these detours, the phasing of traffic signals had been actively managed and manual stop-go intersections were in place.

With more wild weather forecast for Auckland later this week, Potter advised people to be prepared.

"If you live in an area that is prone to flooding, is already saturated or might be affected by slips, we recommend preparing for the incoming weather."

The council said they could be reached on 09 301 0101 to report non-urgent flooding issues. These included missing, damaged or dislodged manhole lids and drains blocked by debris.

If your property or suburb is flood-prone:
· Make sure drains and gutters are cleared
· Report any blocked or overflowing public street drains
· Move any items in flood-prone areas somewhere they won't get wet or damaged.

If your property or suburb may be affected by slips or power outages:
· Prepare for the possibility that your road access may be cut off
· Ensure you have food and provisions on hand in case of isolation
· Never attempt to drive over slips
· Treat powerlines as live at all times.