The road connecting Te Henga Bethells Beach to the rest of Auckland has been restored after severe flooding cut access to the coastal settlement.
Te Henga Bethells Beach after the storm. Photo: Twitter / Auckland Transport
Bethells Road near the beach access was washed out in the big storm 10 days ago, all but cutting roading access for about 200 residents.
Auckland Transport and its contractor Fulton Hogan have re-built the road after carting in 1000 tonnes of rock.
The road reopened for residents only this evening.
Access to Te Henga (Bethells Beach) was closed to non-residents under alert level 4 and there is limited access for emergency services.
Auckland Mayor Phil Goff said it was vital for the community to be reconnected to the region as soon as possible.
"Being isolated with no road connection raises serious problems for any community," he said.
"Auckland Transport and contractors Fulton Hogan worked continuously to restore the road as quickly as they could. I thank them for their efforts, working during poor weather and under the constraints imposed by Covid-19 alert level 4.
"I also want to acknowledge the community at Bethells for their resilience and the help they gave to each other to overcome the difficulties caused by the road closure.
"The opening of the road is for residents only and visitors should not use it during Alert Level 4 in breach of requirements to stay local."
Local board member and Bethells' resident Mark Allen said people who lived on the beach side of the slip were thrilled to get the road back.
"We are a very self-sufficient community but it is important that we can get out to go to the supermarket, the doctor and even to get a Covid-19 vaccination.
"We'd like to thank the crew from AT and Fulton Hogan for the hard work they've put in."
Integrated Networks executive general manager Mark Lambert said there was some finishing off work to be done but locals would be able to use the road.
"The road will be left unsealed and will be open only to local residents. We hope the weather will improve on Sunday so we can seal it then.
"We'd like to thank Fulton Hogan for their great work and the locals for their support, our team has certainly appreciated it."