Limited access through SH35 Maraenui Hill

NZ Transport Agency Bay of Plenty

27 August 2010

Limited access through SH35 Maraenui Hill

The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) is working hard to provide vechile access through the Maraenui Hill slip area on State Highway 35, approximately 32km east of Opotiki.

SH35 was closed at the Maraenui Hill on Wednesday due to significant slip damage.

The slip area was temporarily opened to one lane of light traffic between 1pm and 5pm this afternoon. The slip site will be monitored again tomorrow morning and, if the slip is stable and the weather permits, the road will be opened for light vehicles again on Saturday, from 1pm to 5pm. The temporary access through the slip area will be controlled by stop/go traffic control and will be closely monitored.

There will be no access for trucks through the slip site during this temporary opening.

The slip site is not expected to be opened to traffic on Sunday due to forecast poor weather.

Acting Bay of Plenty State Highway Manager, Kevin Reid says the NZTA is currently working to clear an unsealed forestry road that will provide vehicle access around the slip site and back onto SH35. However, making this steep unsealed route safe for the genreal public has taken a little longer than expected and it is not expected to be opened to light traffic until Monday at the earliest.

Mr Reid says opening the the foresary road detour route for heavy traffic will take a bit work but he is hoping this will be completed by the end of next week. Until then a detour available for heavy traffic is SH2 via Gisborne.

Mr Reid says, “We will do everything we can to open the detour route to heavy vehicles as soon as possible. All motorists planning to use this detour route will need to take care as it is very steep and windy.”

Once opened, the forestry road detour will have a 30km/h speed restriction and carry one lane of traffic at all times, managed by stop/go traffic control. The detour is expected to add an additional 10 minutes onto the normal travel time along the SH35 Maraenui Hill route.

Regular updates about the closure will be aired on Whakatane radio station IXX and posted on the highway information section of NZTA web site: www.nzta.govt.nz

ENDS