NZTA Aiming for One Lane Re-Opened in Waioeka Gorge in Two Weeks

Crews at Waioeka Gorge have had a slow start to the day after heavy rain. 

Crews will need to reassess the sites for safety and new damage NZTA Controller SH2 Waioweka Gorge Response and Recovery Rob Service said.

This morning, crews at the Tairawhiti Gisborne end of the slip were unable to enter the Gorge due to flooding in the area.

Ōpōtiki crews were pulled to reopen State Highway 35 from Ōpōtiki to Pōtaka Bridge, which has now reopened. 

Service said "We were warned, obviously, that there was heavy rain, a red warning coming our way over the region."

"That's now come through. We took that opportunity to stand down crews and take a pause in the response, which allowed crews to rest, keep them safe from that weather event." He said once a safety and risk evaluation has been conducted, work will begin again. 

For the crews, the focus is now on getting one lane cleared to re-open in two weeks he said.

"It might go a little bit more, but we never know what we're going to find. But we're setting that as a bit of a hard target for them to focus on and to concentrate their effort on."

Workers will rotate to get the job done, particularly with work over this long weekend.

"So we expect no relaxation of the amount of effort required to get the road reinstated."

"And then next week, we will continue with our normal tempo of operations as well."

He is confident the pace and methods of their clearing is suitable and respectful for the area. 

"We do acknowledge and we understand we've all got whānau and friends that are trying to get through there and the extra travel that's required to keep people safe on the roads. But I would like to acknowledge the patience from the public.

"We are aware of our cultural and responsibilities as far as not going into the gorge and we will not be intentionally shoveling debris and material into the awa."

"That is not our operational briefing. We'll be respectful as much as we can. And we acknowledge iwi as well."

Before the rain, 40 slips were identified, with four larger slips previously unidentified on Wednesday.

By Tuesday and a number of 50 truckloads of slip material from both the Ōpōtiki and Gisborne ends of the Gorge.

Service said "We have been able to have a bit of success with contacting the drivers or the owners of vehicles that got trapped in the gorge last Friday. "

"And yesterday we were able to convoy some of those vehicles out."

Nine vehicles have so far been removed, and fifteen remain.

There were also residents who chose to stay in the Gorge after the closure.

Whakatāne Senior Sergeant Cam MacKinnon on Tuesday said Police were in contact with those who had decided to stay. 

"I am aware that a number of people are housebound."

"We maintain contact with them in terms of making sure that they have the requirements to remain holed up."

"At such time, if the contingency changes and we need to extract them, we're in contact with them."

No further people have been removed from the Gorge.