There has been significant progress clearing slips around the Coromandel and wider Waikato with most highways now open but extreme caution is advised as there may be small slips and areas with surface water. Clearance and cleanup works will continue tomorrow in the region.
10pm, 30 January 20223 update:
Coromandel
SH25 OPEN between Thames and Coromandel. Extreme caution advised.
SH25 OPEN between Coromandel and Whitianga. Extreme caution advised.
SH25 OPEN between Whitianga and Whangamata
SH25 OPEN between Whangamata and Waihī . Extreme caution advised.
SH25A FULLY CLOSED due to the major collapse. Local gravel roads 309 and Tapu Coroglen are also closed until further notice
Elsewhere in Waikato
SH26 FULLY CLOSED between Te Aroha and the Paeroa–Tahuna Road due to flooding, which may not subside for some time. Paeroa-Tahuna Road is accessible from Paeroa
SH26 OPEN between Paeroa and Kopu. Caution advised – standing surface water.
SH2 OPEN between SH25 intersection and SH27 intersection– slippery surface and reduced speed limit in place
SH2 OPEN through the Karangahake Gorge
SH29 OPEN Kaimai Range
SH31 OPEN between Ngutuni Road and Kaimango Road, although further slips are possible. Proceed with caution.
SH37 CLOSED Waitomo between the SH3 roundabout, Hangatiki and Fullerton Road, Waitomo Village.
The impacts that this weather event is having on our highways continues to evolve. Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency urges road users to take extreme care, and be prepared for unexpected situations. The road conditions may change.
NOTE: Metservice - Red Heavy Rain Warning issued for the Coromandel Peninsula from midnight Tuesday 31 January through to 6pm Wednesday 1 February expected to cause dangerous river conditions and significant flooding . Slips and floodwaters are likely to disrupt travel, making some roads impassable and possibly isolating communities.
Waikato Region Emergency Management website(external link)
This information updates the bulletin below.
12.25pm, 30 January 2023:
A significant portion of the Peninsula is affected with multiple road closures in place due to slips and flooding. It is a hazardous and evolving situation.
Contractors have worked hard to clear a slip on State Highway 25 (SH25) at Ruamahanga Bay on the Thames-Coast side and the road has re-opened late this morning. However additional slips are occurring in this area and drivers should proceed with a very high level of caution on the Thames Coast.
SH25 remains closed between Coromandel and Whitianga due to multiple slips on Whangapoua Hill. The road is open south of Whitianga but proceed with caution.
State Highway 25A is closed for the foreseeable future due to a major collapse of the road. Other local arterial roads through the peninsula are also closed.
Contractors are working to clear roads and re-open them as soon as it is safe to do so.
With more rain to come, the situation could change at any time. Even where roads are open, surfaces could be muddy and slippery, there may be surface flooding and hillsides may be unstable. Drivers are advised to check our Journey Planner website for up to date information before they travel.
If drivers need to leave the Coromandel the current routes out are:
Those located north of Waiomu on the western side, and north/west of Whitianga, can now exit the Peninsula with caution via the Thames-Coast highway.
SH25 OPEN between Thames and Coromandel. Slip at Ruamahanga bay between Waiomu and Tapu has been cleared. However a slip at Te Kouma Road between Manaia and Coromandel is currently being cleared. Stop/Go traffic management is in place.
SH25 CLOSED between Coromandel to Whitianga due to major slips blocking both lanes over Whangapoua Hill
SH25 OPEN Whitianga to Whangamata
SH25 OPEN between Whangamata and Waihī – extreme caution advised as there are many small slips and surface flooding. The road will be slippery
SH25A CLOSED due to the major collapse. Local gravel roads 309 and Tapu Coroglen are also closed until further notice
SH26 CLOSED between Te Aroha and the Paeroa – Tahuna Road because of flooding
SH2 CLOSED between SH25 intersection and SH27 intersection– multiple slips blocking both lanes
SH2 OPEN through the Karangahake Gorge
SH29 OPEN Kaimai Range
