State Highway 11 past Lemons Hill in the Bay of Islands is closed tonight by new slip activity.

There are reports of a tree and other material on the road, but it won’t be possible to make an assessment until the morning. It’s not clear at this stage how long the road will be closed, says the Transport Agency’s Northland System Manager Jacqui Hori-Hoult.

Road crews were due to open the road to two-way traffic today following months of work to stabilise the hillside after heavy rain brought down a huge slip in February. The road has been open under stop/go traffic management to one lane traffic in recent weeks.

While the road is closed, motorists will have to use the alternative route via State Highways 1, 10 and 11. Drivers should allow up to 30 minutes extra for the journey between Kawakawa and Paihia.

The Transport Agency thanks motorists for their continued patience as we work to repair Lemon's Hill and reopen SH11.

© Scoop Media