State Highway 2 disrupted again by Ōpōtiki slip

NZTA contractors were continuing their efforts to clear a slip on State Highway 2 at Waiotahe Beach near Ōpōtiki, and a geotechnical examination was carried out. Photo / Supplied

Work continued yesterday on clearing a second major slip that came down on State Highway 2 north of Ōpōtiki.

The slip was adjacent to a large one that shut the highway there for a week at Waiotahe Beach.

The latest slip resulted in the highway being closed between Waiotahi Valley Back Rd and Paerata Ridge Rd since Monday morning.

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi yesterday said work to remove debris continued and geotechnical engineers undertook an assessment of the cliff face.

“The road cannot be reopened until it’s deemed safe to do so,” an NZTA spokesman said.

“The detour for eastbound traffic involved a right on to Waiotahi Valley Back Rd, Verrall Rd, left at the Paerata Ridge Rd before rejoining SH2.”

It was reverse order for westbound traffic and the detour was not available to heavy traffic.

Trucking operators in and out of Gisborne were forced to go the long way round again, via Hawke’s Bay, to get produce to markets north.