State Highway 35 is closing from 9pm at Okitu, north of Gisborne.

The road will remain closed overnight until crews have reassessed the situation first thing tomorrow morning.

The state highway is being closed in support of Civil Defence.

More heavy rainfall is forecast overnight, as Tairāwhiti remains under a red heavy rain warning.

Heavy and persistent rainfall has made the ground surrounding the region’s state highways sodden, and there’s a possibility of flooding and slips on the state highway.

Please delay your journeys and avoid the area.

We’re advising all road users to take care on other roads around the region and be alert for any surface flooding from rising rivers and streams nearby and the potential for short-notice road closures on other parts of the network overnight.

SH2 between Matawai and Opotiki remains closed.

3.45pm

Drive alert, drive safely.

That’s the messaging heading into the evening and night as heavy rain warnings remain in place for Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti.

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi is urging drivers travelling throughout both regions, right around East Cape and into Bay of Plenty to be extra cautious on the roads.

Metservice has issued the following warnings for the regions:

• Red heavy rain: Tairāwhiti north of Tokomaru Bay: From 9am today (Wednesday) til 11am tomorrow (Thursday) – heavy rain forecast
• Orange heavy rain: Gisborne south of Tolaga Bay and Hawke’s Bay: From 10am today (Wednesday) til 10am tomorrow (Thursday) – heavy rain forecast.

Recent rainfall in the area has made the ground surrounding the roads sodden and we’re advising all road users to take care on the roads and be alert for any surface flooding from rising rivers and streams nearby and the potential for short-notice road closures this evening or overnight. Crews will be unable to attend state highway slips, debris or flooding overnight.

All state highways in Hawke’s Bay remain open currently; as does SH35 and SH2 south of Gisborne.

SH2 through Waioweka Gorge remains closed so if you’re heading to Gisborne, please allow extra time over the coming days. SH2 between Napier and Gisborne is likely to be busier as is SH35, so please take your time.

It’s really important people drive to the conditions, and adjust your speed; turn your headlights on and adjust your following distance when you need to. 

If you are traveling the network, please adhere to any temporary traffic management or speed restrictions that may be in place. 

Keep up to date on the NZTA Journey Planner for any changes to the highway network and if you see any signs of slips or flooding that crews aren’t at, please report them via 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 449).

Postponed works

As a result of the rain warnings in place, Transport Rebuild East Coast (TREC) has cancelled SH38 night closures (between Lake Waikaremoana and Tuai) tonight and tomorrow night. The work is expected to resume next Tuesday at 8pm, following Auckland anniversary weekend.

And a reminder, the overnight closures on SH2 at Devil’s Elbow have been postponed.