Crews working to repair State Highway 2 at Devil's Elbow. Photo: Facebook / Waka Kotahi
A section of State Highway 2 between Wairoa and Napier has been closed due to significant risks from slips and rockfall.
The highway had already been damaged badly during Cyclone Gabrielle, but access to the north had since been restored between Wairoa and Raupunga.
But access south of Raupunga had remained closed to the public, with limited access for emergency services and residents between Napier and Tūtira up until Thursday.
Now, the highway had to be closed to all traffic between Tangoio and Tūtira after geotechnical surveys found significant risks of slips and rockfall in that section.
Helicopters were expected to spend about two weeks working to dislodge loose soil, boulders and trees that were at risk of falling onto the road, the transport agency said.
A larger part of the highway, going through Wairoa to Napier, was not expected to reopen to the general public for up to three months.
Communities in Wairoa have also been isolated since Cyclone Gabrielle hit, due to damage on the roads as well as closures.
NZTA maintenance and operations regional manager Jaclyn Hankin said they understood how significant the closure would be for residents.
"We have not taken the decision to close the road lightly. However, the safety of not only the emergency services and local residents who have been able to use this section of SH2, but also our crews working on this stretch of road, is our highest priority."
It was working with Civil Defence and other government partners to minimise the impact of the closure to residents and emergency services, it said.
The damage to that section of SH2 had been significant, Hankin said.
"In addition to the sluicing operation, our contractors are working across eight damaged sites, including two major dropouts, which will need to be repaired before we can safely reopen the road.
"There are also multiple sites where the soil is unstable and each one of those sites will need further investigation. We have also identified sites where guardrails have been taken out and shoulders have collapsed.
"It's important to understand that even once we are able to restore access to emergency services and residents, there will still be a considerable amount of work that needs to be done to provide safe, reliable access between Wairoa and Napier, including on this section of highway.
Work on SH2 between Tangoio and Tūtira will begin on 11 March, with road closures in place at Aropaoanui Road and Waikoau Hill from 9 March.