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Transport Rebuild East Coast

TREC Hawke's Bay recovery update

Issue 25

2 October 2025

 

Tēnā koe,

In this edition we take a deep dive into the final push of works on State Highway 2 (SH2) including some planned night closures at Devil’s Elbow.

We also explain how we undertake bird management around our projects on the Tutaekuri River.

Thanks for your ongoing patience and support as we continue our recovery mahi.
 

 

Spring/summer works on SH2

Our recovery work on SH2 in Hawke’s Bay is entering the final stages with the programme in this region expected to be completed in early 2026.

Below is a summary of our remaining projects underway this construction season that will help keep communities connected:

  • Two new underslip recovery projects at Lake Tūtira and White Pine Bush.
  • Clearing culverts (large pipes) and drainage at Waikare Gorge.
  • Road rebuilds at Sandy Creek, Tangoio Falls and Te Ngarue, over completed underslip repair sites.
  • Resealing the road at Waikoau Hill and White Pine Bush.
  • A range of work at Devil’s Elbow (more details on that below).

There will be disruption along the highway during this final push. Traffic will be down to 1 lane at times. 

We’ll complete this essential work as quickly and safely as possible, using the closures to do as much as we can.

The end is in sight and we appreciate the support we’ve received over the years from all road users and local communities. This is the final push towards a more resilient and ultimately safer journey for all.

More information.

Map of SH2 worksites this spring/summer and one of the damaged culverts.
 

 

Devil’s Elbow overnight full road closures

From Sunday 16 November to Friday 5 December full overnight road closures will be in place on SH2 between Waikoau Hill, south of Tūtira, and Aropaoanui Road for 3 weeks. These will be from 9pm to 5am, Sunday to Thursday (5 nights each week).

During the closures we’ll replace around 10 culverts (large pipes) with larger ones and repair others damaged in the cyclone. This will help better manage stormwater runoff, reducing the risk of flooding and erosion over time.

Full overnight road closures are needed as the culverts are under the road and we need to dig out the full width of the road to replace or repair them.

To make the most of the road closures we’ll also undertake road rebuilds at Sandy Creek, Tangoio Falls and Te Ngarue. The existing road surface and underlying road structure (pavement) will be removed and replaced with new materials. This will be followed by a final road reseal in February 2026.

If you’re travelling between Napier and Wairoa please allow enough time to make it to a closure point before 9pm during those 3 weeks.

The night works are weather dependent. The contingency nights are Sunday 7 December to Thursday 11 December, 9pm to 5am each night.

SH2 closure map.
 

 

Devil’s Elbow nightworks – 1 lane open

In mid-October, before the full overnight closures at Devil’s Elbow start, we’ll be repairing more than 20 culvert (large pipe) inlets (the end where the water flows in) and fixing any erosion caused by overflowing water when the culverts were blocked by cyclone debris.

Various sections of the road between Waikoau Hill, south of Tūtira, and Aropaoanui Road will be down to 1 lane from 6pm to 6am with traffic lights.

During the day we’ll pour concrete to tie the new inlets into existing stormwater structures and build the culvert outlet supports (the end where the water flows out).

Road reseal work at Waikoau Hill and White Pine Bush will also be undertaken.
 

 

Stacking it up at Devil’s Corner

Work at Devil’s Corner - Project I - in the Devil’s Elbow section of SH2 is progressing well. Most people don’t get to see this growing structure as it’s hidden below the road.

A 12m-high MSE (mechanically stabilised earth) retaining wall is being installed in layers.

This photo shows how much progress has been made to date. We have completed 14 of the 24 layers.

Progress at Devil’s Corner from November 2024 to September 2025.
 

 

Asphalting Devil’s Elbow in 2026 - overnight full road closures

From Sunday 18 January to Friday 30 January we’ll undertake the finishing touch at Devil’s Elbow by asphalting a 4.5km stretch of the road.

The existing road surface and underlying road structure (pavement) will be removed and replaced with fresh asphalt. This work is being done at night to minimise disruption, with crews and machinery working across both lanes of the road.

This will provide a smoother drive over the numerous underslip repairs on this badly damaged section of SH2.

This work will be from 9pm to 5am Sunday to Thursday nights (five nights each week).

We’ll provide reminders of this work nearer the time.
 

 

Bird management by the bridges

As part of our recovery works on the side-by-side Rail Bridge 217 and Tutaekuri Bridge (Waitangi) on State Highway 51 just south of Awatoto, you may notice some extra noise on the cycle trail in the area.

We’re using ‘bird deterrent’ measures to protect the birds from the works and to encourage nesting in more suitable habitats upstream of the construction areas.

You can expect loud noises and bird shaped kites in the air. We’re working closely with our ecologists throughout this process.

Birds get accustomed to the noises, so we will be moving the noise-making equipment around in the areas below.

These measures will be in place until the end of the project which is expected to be June 2026.

Map showing the areas where bird deterrent measures will be in place during the works.
 

 

Site snapshots

SH2 Hawke's Bay North (see above for all projects)

Underway:

  • We have started work at Lake Tūtira repairing 2 underslips. Work is expected to continue until the end of November.
  • We have started drainage improvement work at Waikare Gorge (north of the new Acrow bridge). This work should finish up in the next week or so.

Upcoming:

  • At White Pine Bush we’ll be repairing an underslip and stormwater drainage. This is expected to begin Monday 13 October and continue until late November.


SH5 Napier to Taupō

Underway (see more details in our spring/summer SH5 Recovery update):

  • Repair work on 2 Tarawera culverts is ongoing, despite wet weather conditions, and we are on track to finish this work in November.  
  • At Eskdale Substation, we have started work repairing the damaged road shoulder with a buttress to support the road. This work is expected to take around 8 weeks.
  • Improvements at Captain’s Culvert are underway. Subsoils, which prevent water building up within the road surface (pavement), are currently being installed and the road surface is being excavated. Work is expected to be completed by mid-October.
  • Second coat road seals work has started along this route. Sites north of Eskdale and Dillons Hill are complete.

SH51

Underway:

  • Permanent repairs to the Tutaekuri Bridge (Waitangi) are underway. Repairs focus on 3 key areas: removing debris, concrete repairs to piles in the river, and replacing damaged bracing beams to restore the structural integrity of the bridge. Scaffolding is now up and work on the bracing beams has begun.


SH38

Upcoming:

  • Work planned for 3 sites on SH38 will require night closures. We’ll provide more information once details are confirmed.
  • Planning for repairs on these 3 remaining underslips is underway. Work will include:
    • 1 MSE (mechanically stabilised earth) buttress at Whatapo Bay.
    • 3 tied retaining walls up to 3.5m high at the Rosie Bay and South of Kaitawa sites – these require anchors and tie rods below the road to hold the wall top in position.
 


 

Rail progress

We are continuing work across our rail sites with the ballast cleaning machine which has the important job of cleaning and screening the railway track ballast (stones). This work will be completed in November and will help us complete our programme of rail recovery works. To learn more about ballast cleaning, read the story in our last issue.

North of Napier we’re continuing to remove the silt buildup caused by Cyclone Gabrielle and clearing debris from 3 culverts between Tūtira and Eskdale.

Rail Bridge 217

Works at Bridge 217 continue. Corrosion protection works by local contractor Napier Sandblasting has commenced. Span replacements will start in November, with berm works beginning in the New Year.
 


 

Whakapā mai – Get in touch

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

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Local road network

Hawke’s Bay councils are responsible for local roading recovery projects.
 

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