A Bailey bridge has been installed between Mill Flat Road and Coatesville-Riverhead Highway in Auckland's Riverhead after severe flooding on 27 January washed away the existing bridge. Photo: Auckland Transport / Supplied
The government has committed to setting up Bailey bridges at six points across the North Island to reconnect communities still cut off in the wake of Cyclone Gabriel and the Auckland floods.
Speaking to media in Hastings on Thursday afternoon, Transport Minister Michael Wood said the focus was getting lifeline roads open while long-term solutions were explored.
"Bailey Bridges are only one of the tools we're using to reconnect communities in the short term," Wood said in a statement released after the announcement.
"Other options including diversions through private property, single lane access, and speed or weight restrictions are also being considered. As we work through suitability assessments we'll have a clearer idea of what resources are best suited to meet communities' needs."
A Bailey bridge is a prefabricated temporary single-lane bridge, but because they are temporary measures, there may be speed or weight restrictions in place.
Waka Kotahi national emergency response team leader Mark Owen, Transport Minister Michael Wood, MP for Tukituki Anna Lorck. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
Sites in Hawke's Bay and Tai Rāwhiti were being assessed for the potential installation of Bailey bridges too.
"We have a large job ahead to determine the extent of which state and local roads can be rebuilt and which cannot or should not be replaced," Wood said.
"This work will take some time, and so the government's focus has been to install interim measures while more permanent and resilient solutions are put in place."
Work is completed on three bridges, including at Mill Flat Road, Riverhead, No. 4 Road, Te Puke, and Tiniroto Road, Ruakituri. Another three bridges will be installed at Puketitiri Road, Rissington,
State Highway 35, and State Highway 2.
A $250 million top-up to the National Land Transport fund has enabled the work on the bridges.
Slip on SH2 blocks route
State Highway 2 between Napier and Hastings as seen in mid-February. Photo: Waka Kotahi
Meanwhile, State Highway 2 is closed between Gisborne and Mātāwai due to a fresh slip blocking the road near Otoko.
Waka Kotahi national journey manager Helen Harris said the site continued to pose problems for crews due to fallen trees and slips.
That section of SH2 was an important link between Ōpōtiki in the Bay of Plenty and Gisborne and Wairoa, and crews were working hard to keep it open, Harris said.
However, safety was the first priority, she said.
The slip is in an area where communications are difficult, which means the transport agency is not always able to update information quickly and travellers should be prepared for delays.
Bridge at State Highway 35 for Tokomaru Bay
A section of the bridge in Tokomaru Bay has been wiped out by flood water, bisecting the town alongside State Highway 35 Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
Construction of a Bailey bridge at State Highway 35 to reconnect Tokomaru Bay is expected to take about eight weeks once it gets underway.
Waka Kotahi is also providing input into a locally-led initiative to construct a temporary private road.
"There has been an initial assessment for geotechnical risks, and we continue to offer advice on safety, as well as working with Gisborne District Council on legal requirements," said Waka Kotahi maintenance and operations regional manager Jaclyn Hankin.
To the north of Tokomaru Bay, a slip and river erosion has damaged the highway through the Mangahauini Gorge.
"A locally-constructed bypass around the gorge is currently being assessed by our teams and should take around three weeks to complete," Hankin said.
State Highway 5 between Napier and Taupō
Picture taken 28 February showing a growing gulf in SH5 between Te Pohue and Glengarry. Photo: Supplied: Waka Kotahi
While State Highway 5 between Napier and Taupō remains closed, Waka Kotahi is warning motorists the road between Bay View and Te Pōhue is only open to residents (with proof) or emergency services and essential providers.
Hawke's Bay and Gisborne journey manager Andre Taylor said geotechnical specialists were at the slip site at Te Pōhue on SH5 on Wednesday.
"This will inform the design and timeline for a fix, and we hope to be in a position to provide further detail later this week," Taylor said.
"In the meantime, we are constructing an access route alongside the slip to enable access for emergency vehicles," he said.
"Temporary repair work to restore access to Marshall's Bridge, where the bridge supports were washed out during Cyclone Gabrielle, was completed yesterday. However, there are other sites along SH5 that also need to be made safe before we can provide access to the public."
It was likely the next step in reopening the road would be allowing freight convoys through, Taylor said.