The detour on State Highway 1. Photo: Waka Kotahi
A section of State Highway 1 will close this week as crews try to retrieve a rolled truck without contaminating Lake Taupō.
The truck rolled down a steep bank at Te Pōporo in Bulli Point on 26 September.
The cab was removed on the same day, but Waka Kotahi said the trailer needed to be anchored by crane so its 27-tonne cargo could be removed without the risk of it ending up in the lake.
The frozen goods will be offloaded by hand on Tuesday, and the trailer removed on Wednesday.
State Highway 1 between Taupō and Turangi will be closed between 8.30am and 4pm on both days, as the road is too narrow for any vehicles - including emergency services - to pass the cranes.
A detour is available via State Highway 41, but Waka Kotahi said travellers should also expect delays along this route because of an existing slip.
It confirmed that so far no contaminants from the truck had made their way into the water.
Waka Kotahi said it appreciated the risks inherent in the stretch of state highway, which it described as "notoriously narrow".
Its acting regional manager for maintenance and operations in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty, Roger Brady, said improvements were already planned for two locations at Te Pōporo/Bulli Point.
"As outlined earlier this year in the government budget, funding has been approved to improve resilience of SH1 at Te Pōporo/Bulli Point," Brady said.
"There is a history of low speed crashes here due to a narrow carriageway above the lake with a bluff overhanging the road that can see trucks cross the centreline in order to navigate tight corners."
The project's design was yet to be completed, with construction likely to begin in 2024/25.