05/05/2023
Some great news to share: State Highway 2 between Wairoa and Napier will reopen on Sunday 14 May, in just over a week’s time. For safety reasons, initially the road will only be open from 7am to 6pm.
Roadworkers have been able to restore the road faster than anticipated—they’ve worked tirelessly to get the job done, and we’ve also been lucky to have had the weather on our side.
A Bailey bridge now spans Waikare Gorge where the permanent bridge has been washed away. While workers have been setting up the bridge, other teams have been working across other sites including Devil’s Elbow. They’ve had to clear landslips, debris, and do a whole bunch of other work to make the road safe.
In total, there were 100 damaged sites across this stretch of SH2—roadworkers have worked as quickly as possible to restore the road, and they’ve done an incredible job.
You need to keep in mind the road will look different to how you’re used to. It’s still in a cyclone-impacted state, which means there’ll traffic management in place for your safety while workers continue repairs.
Thanks for your patience while our people have gotten the job done. We know how much reopening SH2 means for you—we’re really glad to be able to open it earlier than expected.
The new Bailey bridge will be blessed by Ngāti Pāhauwera and Maungaharuru-Tangitu Trust next Saturday, before the entire route reopens to the public on Sunday.