Tāneatua Road to Close for Two Weeks for Culvert and Flood Resilience Work

Tāneatua Road will fully close for just over two weeks from Saturday as Whakatāne District Council crews move into the next stage of a project aimed at making the flood-prone route more resilient.

The full closure will run from Saturday, 26 September, to Sunday, 11 October, following a period of one-lane traffic management on the road from 14 to 25 September.

During the closure, motorists will be directed around the worksite via SH2, White Pine Bush Road and Rewatu Road.

Council said the closure is needed while crews carry out deep excavations for new culverts and raise a section of road that has been vulnerable to flooding during severe weather.

The project has also been expanded to include additional pipe upgrades, allowing the work to be completed while crews, contractors and traffic management are already in place.

The extra work is intended to improve drainage through the area and reduce the need for further major disruption on the route in future.

Council said the closure has been scheduled to coincide with the school holiday period where possible, while additional crews are being brought in to help keep the work moving and minimise the time the road is closed.

Contractors will also use the closure period to complete other work within the project area where possible.

The Tāneatua Road Resilience Programme has been underway since August, with drainage work forming the first stage before the road-raising and culvert upgrades.

Council said the project is supported through Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency's Crown Resilience Programme and is focused on reducing the impact of severe weather on the route.

For motorists, the immediate impact will be longer journeys and a significant detour while the road is closed.

The aim, however, is to address the underlying drainage and flooding problems and improve the reliability of the route during future severe weather events.

Drivers are urged to follow the signed detour route and allow extra time for their journeys while the closure is in place.