Work is underway to improve the alternative route used when State Highway 2 is closed at the Waiotahe Bluffs.
Work is underway to improve the alternative route used when State Highway 2 is closed at the Waiotahe Bluffs.
Ōpōtiki District Council is widening 15 sections of Waiotahi Valley Back Road, Verrall Road and Paerata Ridge Road, along with improvements to the Verrall Road and Paerata Ridge Road intersection and a corner on Waiotahi Valley Back Road.
The upgrades are intended to make the route safer and more suitable for heavy vehicles when traffic is diverted off SH2.
Council group manager service delivery Nathan Hughes said the Waiotahe Bluffs had closed several times in the past three years because of landslips, leaving local roads as the only connection for communities, commuters, visitors and freight.
“When the bluffs close, our local roads are our only connection route,” Hughes said.
“This work is about making sure the alternative route can function as effectively and safely as possible when we need.”
He said securing more than 70 per cent of the project’s funding from Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency had allowed work to begin before Christmas.
Early works, including shoulder and vegetation clearance, are already underway.
The main construction is planned between January and May 2027.
The route will remain open, although motorists can expect short delays around work sites.
Council said the upgrades would provide a safer and more resilient alternative when SH2 is unavailable.
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