The New Zealand Transport Agency, Waka Kotahi, has announced that a section of State Highway 2 (SH2) through Karangahake Gorge will be closed for five nights. This is to allow for road resurfacing work, which will start on April 7. The road will be closed from 8pm to 5am each night, with traffic reduced to a single lane and temporary speed limits in place during the day.
Detours will be available via SH27, SH24, SH29, SH25, and SH25A. However, motorists using the SH29 detour should be aware that there will also be night-time resurfacing work on SH29 over the Kaimai Range, which may cause delays.
Residents will still be able to access their homes from either side of the Karangahake Gorge worksite during the closures, but only emergency service vehicles will be allowed to travel through the worksite.
A separate project to repair an under-slip opposite Victoria Battery will start on April 15. This will also reduce the road to a single lane and impose a speed restriction day and night during the work period. The project is expected to take between four and six weeks, depending on the weather.
Waka Kotahi acknowledges that the road works may be frustrating for some drivers, but they are necessary to make the roads stronger and more resilient. For the most current road information, visit the NZTA Journey Planner at journeys.nzta.govt.nz.
