TREC Tairāwhiti Recovery Update 

Issue 8

18 October 2024

Tēnā koe

Welcome to our fortnightly Tairāwhiti TREC e-newsletter, where you can find the latest information on recovery progress across the rohe. 

This edition includes updates on various works underway on the state highway network and a reminder to road users to drive with care around the many worksites across the region.

State highway snapshot

Below is a snapshot of construction works either recently completed and/or underway: 

SH2 recently completed  

• Otoko Slip Soldier Pile Walls

SH2 underway 

• Otoko Hill Slips #2
• Otoko Hill Slips #3
• Rakauroa
• Allen’s Existing Wall
• Otoko Overslip #2
• Waikohu Bridge #3

SH35 underway 

• Rotokautuku Bridge repairs – early works beneath the bridge. See road notifications below for the latest info on revised road closure date.
• Makarika Valley dropout #3
• Ihungia Road
• Mangahauini Gabion Wall – stage 1
• Whakaari Bluff rock revetment
• Mangakuri Stream Bridge
• Hikuwai Bridge No.1 early investigations

SH35 coming soon (Oct-Dec) 

• Awatere Gully
• Jeru Culvert
• Makarika Valley dropout #2
• Kopuaroa 1 Slip 
• Kopuaroa 1 Stream Bridge

Highway highlights

Maintenance crews hit the road

The annual maintenance programme has kicked-off with road rebuilds underway at Wharekahika (Hicks Bay), Te Araroa and Goldsmiths (just north of Ruatoria).

Road rebuilding can often involve replacing all or most of the structural road layers. Each road rebuild planned this season will take approximately 11-15 working days to complete, weather permitting. We have two crews working which means more than one site will be underway at one time.

Programmed dates to start road rebuilds, weather permitting, on SH35:

• Kopuaroa - 23 October
• Waipiro Bay - 4 November
• Makarika, Te Puia Springs - 5 November
• Sawmill (between Tolaga and Tokomaru Bay) - 14 November

The team will move to SH2 north following the completion of SH35 road rebuilds and we’ll provide the details here.

Catch TREC on the Coast this summer

TREC has joined the monthly Gisborne District Council Rural Support Roadshow made up of local and government organisations that travel SH35 to provide assistance, support and information to those living up the Coast.

Last week we presented on our summer works programme and will be providing the same information next month, Tuesday 12 November in Te Araroa and Tikitiki. Find out more on the group’s Facebook page. Please come and say hello. If you can’t drop-in but have a question, please email info@trec.nz or call 0800 80 TREC (0800 80 8732).

Recovery work underway through Mangahauini Gorge

Urgent works are underway on SH35 in the Mangahauini Gorge, Tokomaru Bay at the single lane dropout. 

The first stage of repair work at this site consists of rock revetment (protection) work and buttressing (supporting structures) and should be complete in a few days. Later this year, our stage two works will include installing soil nails to help stabilise the site, and some road improvements.

Three local contractors are working here - Pro Worx, Blackbee Contractors and Tairāwhiti Contractors. 

Please adhere to the 30km/h speed limit and the traffic signals on site. Drive with care to protect yourself, our workers and other road users.

Great progress at Ihungia Road

Work is underway to reinstate the road shoulder at Ihungia Road just north of Tokomaru Bay.

SH2 Otoko Hill Update

As shown on the map below, recovery work on Otoko Hill is progressing well with four (the green dots) of nine projects now complete.

Two projects are currently underway (G and I – the orange dots) with a further two sites to start before Christmas (J and L – the dark blue dots).

You can visit the project website for more information:Otoko Hill recovery | NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (nzta.govt.nz)

Road notifications 

Rotokautuku (Waiapu) Bridge 30-minute closure, Wednesday 23 October, 12pm to 12.30pm. Thank you for your patience while we use this short closure to jack up the bridge so we can progress the repairs happening underneath. 

Please sign-up to our weekly planned report, emailed direct to you every Friday with information on where weekly stop/go sites are located. Sign-up here: lynne.chaffey@downer.co.nz.

Did you know?

TREC partners with Mana Whenua Kaitiaki across Tairāwhiti and Te Matau-a-Maui. Kaitiaki (guardians) are mana whenua representatives appointed by Iwi to provide cultural monitoring and environmental oversight on TREC projects within their respective rohe.

Whakapā mai – Get in touch

For more information on the Transport Rebuild East Coast project:

• Email us: info@trec.nz
• Website: www.nzta.govt.nz/trec
• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/east-coast-trec
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/nztahbg
• Call us: 0800 80 TREC (0800 80 8732)

​If you spot an issue at a work site after hours, call 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 444449).

Sign-up to receive these newsletters:

• TREC Pānui (general newsletter)
• TREC Hawke's Bay regional fortnightly update
• This TREC Tairāwhiti regional fortnightly update

Local road network

Gisborne District Council is responsible for local roading recovery projects, for more information please click here. 

For up-to-date information on local road closures please click here.