The first cars will be travelling through State Highway 35 between Pōtaka and Te Araroa this morning.

The road has reopened, three weeks after storms and flooding caused severe damage to the highway.

As of today, the road is reopening to the public daily between 7am and 7pm.

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi Incident Controller Richard Bayley says crews have worked exceptionally hard over the last three weeks to get the road to this point.

“However people travelling through should expect a much slower journey. This stretch of road is still in a fragile state and reduced speeds will be in place, and multiple sites with traffic management in place.

“There’ll also be an 18 tonne weight limit for vehicles. Trucks will be able to drive through but not trucks towing trailers, as the road is too narrow in many places.

“Just like Waioweka Gorge, conditions can change quickly, meaning the road may need to close again at short notice to keep everyone safe. We’re working hard to minimise those disruptions.”

Crews will be working on the side of the road clearing the debris, improving drainage and opening culverts to reduce the risk of further issues. People should travel with extreme care, follow all instructions and be mindful of workers on the road. 

“There are a lot of work sites including five single lane sections with traffic lights. You’ll see a lot of activity on the side of the roads and expect delays of approximately 45 minutes.

Outside of the opening times, the road will close and crews will continue their work.