A reminder that State Highway 35 will be closed to essential service convoys this weekend ahead of forecast heavy rain.

State Highway 35 will be closed from Pōtaka at Lottin Point Road south to Taurangakoau Bridge over Mangaowira Stream, just south of Te Araroa, to ensure the safety of all road users and crew members.

MetService has issued an orange heavy rain warning which is expected to be in place between 10pm today and midday on Sunday.

There will be a safety inspection across SH35 on Sunday to determine whether it is safe to resume those essential service/lifeline convoys on Monday morning. When those convoys between Pōtaka and Hicks Bay resume, they will also be available to residents.

SH35 remains extremely fragile and we are closing the road to protect people, our roadworkers and communities ahead of the incoming weather. 

SH35 Te Araroa to Tikitiki is currently open until 6pm tonight (Friday 13 February), when the road will close between Taurangakoau Bridge to Te Araroa (and through to Pōtaka), until 6am Monday 16 February.

At this stage, the road will remain open between Taurangakoau Bridge, south to Gisborne. If you’re driving this section of road, take care and drive to the conditions.

Please also be alert to the possibility of other short notice road closures, if conditions deteriorate.

Crews have been working hard this week to prepare SH35 as much as possible ahead of the incoming weather. This includes clearing culverts and drainage, removing vegetation, and sweeping roads.

We’ve been working on a prioritised list of culverts and drainage clearing along SH35, focused on the large box culverts and larger drainage paths – we expect to complete this by this afternoon. Work on the smaller culverts and drains will take weeks to complete and will be ongoing.