Excavation Underway as Waioweka Gorge Recovery Works Progress

Excavation is now underway at the Redpath Culvert as work continues on the State Highway 2 Waioweka Gorge recovery and resilience programme.

The latest construction activity marks another step forward in a programme aimed at repairing damage caused by significant weather events while strengthening the highway against future disruption.

Construction at Redpath Culvert began in July, with an additional excavator now on site to help advance the work and keep the programme moving efficiently, the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) said.

Several other sites across the gorge are also progressing, including the Goldsmith Slip, where contractor Geovert has been testing the anchors that will hold a large rockfall net in place.

The testing is being carried out to ensure the anchors are strong enough to secure the system, which will help catch and slow falling rocks before they reach SH2.

The steel net is planned to be installed in early September, slightly later than originally expected.

"This is slightly later than we had anticipated, after we experienced some delays due to conditions in the gorge," the transport agency said.

Once installed, the rockfall protection system is expected to improve safety for people travelling through the gorge and reduce the risk of road closures during severe weather and rockfall events.

Below the road at Goldsmith, crews are completing foundation work and carrying out final testing before moving into the next stage of construction.

NZTA said earlier stabilisation work at the site had been completed "despite challenging ground conditions", helping keep the wider programme moving.

At Richards Culvert, design work is nearing completion following earlier investigations which exposed the drainage culvert and provided important information for the final design.

Contractors are ready to begin construction once final approvals are received.

Planning and design work is also continuing at a number of other culvert and drainage locations throughout the gorge.

The transport agency said this work was helping create "a steady pipeline of work as the programme continues to improve the resilience of this important transport route".

The need for the work was reinforced by an overnight slip on SH2 on Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 August, just down the road from Sandy's scour repair site.

The slip occurred outside the current recovery work sites but required a rapid response from maintenance crews to keep people moving safely.

NZTA said the incident was a "timely reminder of how vulnerable some of New Zealand's key transport routes remain".

"The incident highlights why improving the resilience of SH2 through Waioweka Gorge remains a priority," the agency said.

Approximately $33 million from the National Land Transport Fund is being invested in recovery and improvement works within the gorge.

Around $25 million is being used to restore the state highway following significant weather events, while a further $8 million is being spent on targeted improvements designed to strengthen the corridor and reduce the risk of future disruption.

The investment forms part of a broader programme of resilience improvements along SH2 between Ōpōtiki and Matawai, with a further $75 million being invested to address some of the route's most vulnerable locations.

"Together, these investments recognise the importance of SH2 as a critical regional connection," the transport agency said.

"By strengthening vulnerable sections of the corridor, we can improve reliability, support economic activity and help communities stay connected during and after severe weather events."

With spring approaching, NZTA said longer days and improving weather conditions would help construction progress, although conditions in the gorge could remain unpredictable.

"Spring can still bring unpredictable weather, and changing ground conditions may affect our plans from time to time," the agency said.

Crews will continue to monitor conditions and adjust the work programme where necessary.

To keep road users and workers safe, the transport agency warned there could be times when the gorge needs to be temporarily closed while construction is underway or during periods of unsettled weather.

"We're looking forward to longer days and improving weather conditions," NZTA said, while acknowledging that conditions in the gorge would continue to be closely monitored as work progresses.

Key areas along SH2 where repairs to the road are needed. IMAGE // NZTA