Almost five years after being closed following two slips, Ōtaki Gorge Road at Blue Bluff is now open, reports Kāpiti Coast District Council.

Council’s Group Manager of Infrastructure and Asset Management, Sean Mallon thanked the community for their patience and support and congratulated the team who worked on clearing the road.

“We are very pleased to open the road for our community to enjoy this much-loved area again. However, we remind people that Ōtaki Gorge Road is still a narrow gravel lane in places with few turning points and passing opportunities. Please don’t all rush in there this weekend because the road is unsuitable for high volumes of traffic,” said Mr Mallon.

After a period of monitoring, investigations and optioneering, the five-month project involved:

• clearing the underslip and the overslip
• removing approximately 16,000 cubic metres of rock material from the slips
• installing drainage on the slip face
• rebuilding the road through the area and moving it back away from the cliff
• shoring up the road with a new retaining wall
• removing five years of growth from the road past the slip.

The road has been reopened up to the Caretaker’s house. Parking and access to the Tararua Forest Park is available at the swing bridge area. The Department of Conservation is taking more time to get the Ōtaki Forks Campsite ready for visitors.

kapiticoast.govt.nz/OtakiGorgeRoad

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