A section of SH35 near Te Kaha collapsed into Motu River on Wednesday evening. Photo / Supplied
A temporary single lane will open tonight on SH35 near Motu River Bridge.
A stretch of highway between Ōpōtiki and Te Kaha collapsed into the Motu River on Wednesday evening, forcing the closure of the road between the Bay of Plenty and East Coast, isolating some coastal communities.
It has been closed since following severe cracking and a section of the eastbound lane falling into the river, a Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency media statement said.
The "tireless efforts" of contractors at the site of the "major collapse" meant a temporary single lane track would open to traffic this evening, the statement said.
The temporary single lane track will open from 5pm tonight until 7am Monday.
On Monday, the track will be closed to enable construction work to continue, which means the temporary track will not be passable during the day.
It will reopen Monday from 5pm to 8pm and for restricted timeframes over the following days providing it is safe to do so.
There is heavy rain forecast for Monday night to Tuesday, which poses a risk that will need to be assessed before the track can be reopened.
Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency contractors have created a makeshift track to allow light vehicles through under a temporary speed limit.
"We are currently unable to open the track to heavy vehicles, but in exceptional circumstances trucks may be escorted through individually.
"Such circumstances include emergency vehicles and businesses providing essential supplies and services.
A temporary single lane track will be opened for light vehicles only on SH35 near Motu River Bridge from 5pm, Sat 23 to 7am Mon 25 Jul. On Mon 25 Jul, the track will be CLOSED again to enable construction work to continue & it will reopen on Mon 5pm-8pm. https://t.co/tfRhqdklPi pic.twitter.com/T2rUPKrqdt
— Waka Kotahi NZTA Waikato/BoP (@WakaKotahiWaiBP) July 23, 2022
"To arrange a heavy vehicle crossing time please give 24 hours' notice and contact Higgins Contractors in Rotorua."
National Emergency Response manager Mark Owen said: "Our contractors have been working flat out - at all hours and in all weather - to do what they can to stabilise the river bank and create a safe temporary track to allow locals an opportunity to get through. A more permanent solution will take some time.
"Waka Kotahi advises locals use these travel windows to get essential supplies for their whānau and businesses during this relatively settled weather period. It may not be possible to get through next week, depending on what the weather brings."
The Bay of Plenty, and the East Coast in particular, have experienced significant rainfall, coastal surges and strong winds this year, all of which puts pressure on a roading network that is already more vulnerable due to unstable geology.
"We know how important this road is to communities on the East Coast – to access necessary services, such as food and healthcare, to get kids to school, to run businesses and to stay in touch with friends and whānau."
With the rain forecast to return early next week, people living alongside SH35 are encouraged to use the next few days to prepare for bad weather and make sure they have everything they need to avoid having to travel if the weather gets rough.
Owen encouraged everyone to take care, allow additional time for their journeys and be patient.
"Safety is paramount. It is not possible yet to give a timeframe for when the road to be back to full functionality.
"We will only reopen the road when we are confident it is safe to do so, for both road users and our road workers. In the meantime we ask for patience and respect for our workers at the site. They're doing everything they can to see this happen as soon as possible."
The single lane track will be open to traffic during these timeframes (weather permitting):
Saturday 5pm to Monday 7am
Monday 5pm to 8pm
The safety of the temporary track will be reassessed on Tuesday.