About 30 heavy vehicles were some of the first to travel State Highway 5 between Taupō and Napier since Cyclone Gabrielle damaged the route. Photo: Supplied / Waka Kotahi
The first freight convoy on State Highway 5 from Taupō to Napier has made it through, Waka Kotahi says.
The road suffered extensive damage during Cyclone Gabrielle a month ago, with a temporary bypass created around a large underslip between Glengarry and Te Pōhue.
A Waka Kotahi spokesperson said the first convoy made it through shortly after 9am on Tuesday, after passing 32 damaged sites on the route.
Only critical freight is allowed on the highway at the moment, and convoys may be cancelled at short notice due to the road's ongoing vulnerability.
The convoy in the morning consisted of about 30 heavy vehicles carrying essential supplies, such as food, livestock, and building supplies.
Maintenance and operations regional manager Jaclyn Hankin said contractors had worked hard to get the road to its current state.
"We've had crews working incredibly hard from both the Taupō and Napier ends of the highway."
Picture taken 28 February, showing a growing gulf in SH5 between Te Pōhue and Glengarry. Photo: Supplied: Waka Kotahi
With Hawke's Bay cut off by the SH5 closure to the west and the State Highway 2 closure to the north, heavy vehicles needing to travel to or from the region were having to travel as far south as Palmerston North prior to the convoy.
Another convoy, going from Napier to Taupō, is scheduled to leave at 4pm on Tuesday.
The transport agency asked motorists to avoid travel in the relevant areas at the times the convoys are expected to pass through where possible or to expect delays and be patient.
"Our next step is to open access to the general public, which we're expecting to do by the end of the month," Hankin said.
Convoys will run on weekdays only, with the direction alternating each day.