Solid progress on roads damaged in September floods

Images: Before and after photos of Maraehara Valley Road repairs.

For much of the district, the floods of July and September have become a distant memory, but the effects are still being felt by some.

The two events cost the region around $3.9.million. A number of roads in the Tairāwhiti area were closed due to damage, and particularly from the five-day storm in late September, however, Tairawhiti Roads’ crews have been working flat out to get everything back to ‘normal’.

Tairāwhiti Roads journey manager Helen Harris says coast contractor SSE are on top of the work.

“SSE are progressing the reinstatements or repairs ahead of schedule,” says Ms Harris.

The team at SSE – who take care of the northern part of the region – have already completed work on the upper and lower Mata Road, Tauwhareparae Road, Waipiro Road, Maraehara Valley Road, Goldsmiths Hill highway, Kopuaroa Road, Whareponga Road and East Cape Road repaired.

The work involves reconstruction, reshaping, installation of groynes, the removal of slip debris and general repair.

More than $1 million has already been spent. But there is still plenty to be done.

Ms Harris says there is a robust process that needs to be followed to fund the repairs.

“That includes investigation, documentation of the problem and approval by Government for the necessary funds. All of this is done in the background and generally unseen by the public. It’s time-consuming for both our contractors and ourselves.”

Still on the work schedule to be done is:

• work on the East Cape Road, including repair at the 1.2km bluff and work at a number of scour sites,

• McIlroy Road,

• the Tapaewaeroa Road dropout,

• realignment of the Puketiti Hill on SH35,

• further State Highway reshaping and sealing work,

• the Anaura Road dropout at Nuhiti,

• plenty of slip removal work on SH35 and local roads,

• the Fernside Road slump,

• more work on the Mata Road

• and vertical realignments of the Waiomatatini Road at the Kaiinanga Hill.

Ms Harris says progress so far has been very good and the crews appreciated the patience of local people.

ENDS

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