Part of State Highway 35 Remains Closed Following Heavy Rainfall

    State Highway 35 between Te Araroa and Hicks Bay will remains closed at the Punaruku site

    Following a closure during the weekend, NZTA said State Highway 35 between Te Araroa and Hicks Bay will remain closed at the Punaruku site. 

    NZTA said the road and area around the Punaruku slip site is extremely fragile following the heavy rainfall over the weekend, with geotechnical inspections confirming tension cracking at the site. 

    It said the cracking can be a warning sign further movement could occur without notice, so the road has been deemed unsafe at this stage. 

     An announcement about next steps will be made tomorrow. 

     

    The area was closed from 8pm on Friday as heavy rainfall exceeded predetermined safety thresholds. 

    The closure was extended over the weekend due to ongoing rainfall. 

    "Reopening SH35 at Punaruku slip will be made only when the site is stable and it is safe for road users," it said.

     

    State Highway 35 from Hicks bay to Pōtaka will remain open, but has stop/go traffic management in several places.

    Work on two slip sites at Tōrere is nearly complete with minor finishing work now under way. 

    At Waihau Bay, the road is down to one lane, with priority give way operating 24/7 at an underslip.

    NZTA said design work is underway for this site. 

    We’re committed to keeping the Eastern Bay informed with accurate, timely coverage.
    Have a news tip or story idea? Email news@1xx.co.nz.

    More from Regional News

    Recently Played

    What's On Now

    • Harvey Norman Breakfast Show

      6:00am - 10:00am

      Wake up with LJ and tune in to the Harvey Norman Breakfast Show. It’s the perfect mix of fun, community, and everything you need to start your day. Tune in and start your morning right!

    Events

    On Demand

    BayPlay App

    • Available on the App Store
    • Available on Google Play
    • Just ask Amazon Alexa

    1XXTRA - Listener Club

    Get more with the 1XXTRA!