14 July 2017

Winter Storm Update 3 – Central Plateau

The NZ Transport Agency is asking people to continue to avoid all non-essential travel across the central North Island.

Currently the only north to south routes that are open between Auckland and Wellington are located on both edges of the island - along State Highway 3 on the west coast and State Highway 35 around the East Cape.

MetService is warning snow will continue to fall on State Highway 1 Desert Road and the higher parts of State Highway 5 Napier-Taupo Road until late Friday.

There are also several local road closures. These closures can be checked with District Councils.

NZ Transport Agency spokesperson, Karen Boyt, says with more snow expected to fall people should still delay their journeys if they can.

“We are expecting ice and more snow on the roads so people should delay all non-essential travel.

“Staff and equipment from the upper North Island has been called in to get the roads open as quickly as possible.

“And our crews will be out ploughing the snow on the routes that we know will be the most likely to open first,” Ms Boyt says.

People are advised to slow down and watch for unexpected hazards as melting snow and ice can cause slips and rockfall.

SH2 Waioeka Gorge: State Highway 2 between Opotiki and Gisborne was closed at the Waioeka Gorge last Friday after a large slip fell on the road. The last of the slip is expected to be removed Friday and barriers that catch debris will be put in place. If weather conditions allow the Transport Agency expects one lane to open Friday afternoon. The site will be monitored over the weekend. Road users can expect delays of up to 30 minutes as work continues to stablise the site.

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