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UPDATE - 3.30pm Thu 14 April: The last remaining section of State Highway 35 closed due to the impacts of Cyclone Fili – the section between the intersection with Poroporo Road, northeast of Tikitiki, and the intersection with Waiomatatini Road at the turn-off to Ruatoria – will reopen by 5pm today, in time for the Easter holiday weekend.
It will be a busy few weeks on SH1 between Cambridge and Piarere as significant safety improvements get installed near Maungatautari Road. From Tuesday 19 April safety improvement work will run alongside road maintenance activity. Getting the work done concurrently will reduce the disruption to road users.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency advises of the following closures for motorway improvements. Work delayed by bad weather will be completed at the next available date, prior to Friday, 22 April 2022.
An upgrade to two intersections on State Highway 2 (SH2) between Wainui Road and Ōpōtiki will be welcomed by locals who have been calling for safety improvements in this area.
UPDATE 2, 11.20am Wed 14 April: State Highway 35 has now reopened to Tokomaru Bay, but remains closed between Tokomaru Bay and Potaka. Contractors are out clearing the road but people are advised to travel carefully, expect the unexpected and remain alert for unreported hazards.
Waka Kotahi is reminding Auckland motorists heading north this Easter weekend to avoid the central motorway junction from tomorrow night, where important maintenance work will close a section of the Southern Motorway.
UPDATE 2, 9.30pm Wed 13 April: State Highway 35 is now closed all the way from Okitu, north of Gisborne, through to Potaka, due to fallen trees between Gisborne and Tolaga Bay. The road closure will be reviewed tomorrow morning and an update provided.
Waka Kotahi and Auckland Transport are urging those heading away this Easter to plan ahead in order to avoid traffic congestion, queues and long delays.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is starting work next week on repairing and upgrading the cycling and walking path on the southbound (downhill) side of State Highway 1 through the Ngauranga Gorge.
Mokomoko (indigenous lizards) salvaged from the Takitimu North Link roading project have been relocated to their new permanent home on the maunga, Mauao in Tauranga Moana – giving them a chance to flourish in a new environment.
UPDATE 1.15PM Wed 13 April: State Highway 35 is now also closed between Tokomaru Bay and Te Puia Springs, in addition to the closure between Hicks Bay and Te Araroa. As the section between Tokomaru Bay and Te Puia Springs is still operating under an overnight (7pm-7am) road closure, this section is unlikely to reopen before tomorrow.
Bay of Plenty and Waikato travellers can make their Easter and ANZAC weekend journeys safer and a little sweeter by using the Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency holiday journey planner (Easter and Anzac weekends 2022) to plan ahead and avoid delays.
Drivers who want to use Lewis Pass, SH7 need to rethink their route this evening as a serious motorcycle crash near the Boyle River has closed the highway while the Police Serious Crash Unit investigates and vehicles are recovered.