Contractors are working to clear State Highway 5 between Napier and Taupō after large trees toppled onto the road, forcing its closure.
File photo of the Naper-Taupō Road. Photo: Google Maps
The only detour, through Palmertson North or Gisborne, would take four to five hours, and the Transport Agency is recommending people delay travel if possible until the road reopens later today.
More trees fell overnight after several came down yesterday afternoon, Waka Kotahi Waikato systems manager Cara Lauder said.
"There's about 10 trees there, and they're big ones.
"I think we made the right call not to try and send contractors in [yesterday] when they could have got hit by more trees coming down."
Winds had eased since, but are still gusting to about 50km/h which can cause problems for workers on the top of the hill, she said.
Contracters were starting work this morning, and the road would be closed until at least midday.
"There's some power lines on the other side of the road that just make it a little bit complicated as well - they can't just yank the trees off the road into the berm, so it will be a little while."
Lauder said some people managed to "sneak through" the road closures and a truck and trailer drove into fallen trees.
"I recommend to people that they would delay travel ... if you're talking four or five hours extra to travel you're better to well wait three hours" - Waka Kotahi Waikato systems manager Cara Lauder
Lauder recommended people delay travel until the road reopened around lunchtime. "It's a very long drive and obviously it makes it even longer going an extra four to five hours."