Clean-up road crews on standby for Cyclone Hola

Last week's belts of torrential rain which caused closures of both State Highway 5 and SH2 north due to surface flooding left no permanent damage — just a lot of cleaning up, NZ Transport Agency journey manager Hawke's Bay Oliver Postings said.

"It's all good, just a clean-up now."

And there could be more to come.

Mr Postings said roading crews would be patrolling the region's networks of highways during the forecast brush with the remains of Cyclone Hola, which was expected to bring heavy falls of rain and strong winds to some areas, particularly the northeastern stretch of SH2 between Napier and Wairoa.

With the system moving quickly, ongoing maintenance work across the Bay's highways was not likely to be greatly affected.

On SH2 north roadmarking is being carried out at sites between Bay View and Wairoa with motorists urged to drive with caution around the contractors' marking vehicles.

Surface repairs are also underway on the highway between Tutira and Tangoio with speed restrictions and stop-go signalling in place.

The impact on travel times is likely to be up to five minutes.

Similar work is being carried out on SH50 near Kereru Rd as well as on SH38 between Homeleigh and Frasertown and there are also likely to be delays in travel times.

At the region's two main highway works sites where new roundabout systems are being created, Watchman Rd on SH2 and Pakowhai/Links Rd on the Napier-Hastings Expressway, delays are only expected at the Pakowhai site where travel times are likely to be affected by about five minutes.

During peak hours motorists are advised to seek alternative routes to avoid greater delays.