SH2 Waioweka Gorge closure to add major costs and delays for Upper North Island freight

The road was closed last week following a series of slips which crews had started to clear. However, Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) says that heavy rain has now destabilised the large slips rendering it unsafe for contractors to continue the clearing work.

In a statement released today, NZTA says crews will allow the weather to pass before reassessing the site and resuming clearing work once it is safe to do so.

State Highway 35 remains open but NZTA says it is not a reliable detour in severe weather. Alternatively, State Highway 2 south of Gisborne and State Highway 5 remain open.

Meanwhile, Transporting New Zealand membership manager Lindsay Calvi-Freeman says the closure will add 211 kilometres and close to three hours to a truck journey between Gisborne and Tauranga detouring on State Highway 5.

"Road freight companies are incurring significantly higher operating costs through additional wages and diesel. These pressures will flow through to freight customers, and ultimately consumers," Calvi-Freeman says.

"On average about 1200 vehicles were using the route each day, including around 250 heavy vehicles," he adds. "Conservatively, we estimate that will increase the cost of freight into and out of the region by well over half a million dollars each week."

Transporting New Zealand asks freight customers not to pressure transport companies and truck drivers to deliver in unrealistic timeframes, given the unavoidable trip delays.

"Freight customers and freight forwarders should be aware of their legal responsibility not to pressure drivers to breach speed limits or work time rules, under the Chain of Responsibility provisions in the Land Transport Act," says Calvi-Freeman.

"If your conduct contributes to truck drivers exceeding speed limits, breaching work time rules, or operating over-weight vehicles, you can be liable for a fine of up to $25,000 under the Land Transport Act."