TREC Tairāwhiti Recovery Update 

Issue 7

14 November 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 news about SH2 Nesbitt’s Dip and SH35 Rototahe improvements, details on when to tune into Radio Ngati Porou to hear about our work, and an update on this week’s Rural Roadshow events in Te Araroa and Tikitiki.

You'll also find information on NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) summer renewals work, including a major road replacement currently underway north of Te Puia.

Flood protection work at Nesbitt’s Dip and Rototahe

We recently announced we’re going to upgrade two flood-prone sections of highway in Tairāwhiti to boost resilience and minimise the risk of future flooding.

A section of SH2 at Nesbitt’s Dip and SH35 at Rototahe will be raised and improved drainage will be added. This will reduce the risk of these highways being closed in the future due to seasonal flooding.

We continue to work with Iwi and hapū on these important projects, which will be delivered within existing TREC recovery funding.

Read more.

Vehicles at Rototahe on SH35 during flooding

SH35 road replacements ramping up

NZTA’s annual summer renewals programme is underway, and crews are working on sites around the region.

Along with resealing work, there are also several major 'road replacements' planned. This work involves removing the existing road surface and underlying structure and replacing it with new materials.

After finishing a major road replacement on SH35 Hicks Bay, crews have moved onto new sites including:

• SH35 between Golfcourse and Waipiro Roads
• SH35 between Makarika and Kopuaroa Roads

These sections of highway are down to one lane, with stop/go traffic management and lower speed limits until late November. 

Delays of 10 to 15 minutes are possible between 6am and 6pm each day, except Sundays. Please drive with care to help our crew work safely and to keep other road users safe. 

Work on other sites continues. Sign up to get weekly emails on planned work by contacting Lynne.Chaffey@downer.co.nz

Reinstating a section of SH35 at Ihungia

We've almost finished fixing an underslip to reinstate a section of SH35 at Ihungia, just north of Te Puia.

The photos below show the damage to the road after the cyclone ('before') and the rock armoured buttress (supporting structure) and drainage systems crews have installed over the past six weeks to fix and strengthen this area ('after').

The rock armoured buttress is made up of large rocks that support the road and prevent erosion. This structure helps stabilise the slope, reducing the risk of underslips in the future.

Two types of drainage systems (subsoil and rock drains) were used here to help keep the highway strong and prevent erosion after heavy rain and flooding:

• Subsoil drains redirect groundwater, preventing excess water from weakening the soil and the road surface.
• The surface rock drains manage runoff, ensuring water flows away from the road.

These changes will strengthen the road and make this area more resilient the next time there is severe weather.

Thank you to the teams at H Blackbee Contractors Ltd and Tairāwhiti Contractors Ltd for their work on this project.

Before and after at Ihungia on SH35.

Fixing the underslip at Kopuaroa

Recently, we’ve been asked when we’re planning to repair the underslip on SH35 at Kopuaroa. This work is scheduled to start in January 2025.

To help restore the road lane, we will drill soil anchors into the bank below the road, then cover them with a shotcrete (sprayed liquid concrete) wall to secure the backfilled area. Stay tuned for updates!

The underslip at SH35 Kopuaroa.

Highway updates on Radio Ngati Porou

As we head into the busy summer roadworks season, you’ll be hearing from us even more.

Keep an eye out for our printed brochures, posters, social media, and advertising about work that is happening near you.

You can also catch a TREC spokesperson live on Radio Ngati Porou at 8:30 AM on the following dates, when we'll chat with host Janine Whangapirita about what’s happening on the highways:

• Wednesday 4 December
• Wednesday 8 January
• Wednesday 5 February

Stay tuned for all the latest updates: Radio Ngati Porou

Te Araroa and Tikitiki community events

Thank you to everyone who joined the TREC and NZTA teams at this week’s Rural Roadshow events.

We joined Trust Tairāwhiti, the Lottery Community Grants team, the Cancer Society and others in Te Araroa and Tikitiki.

These are the final Rural Roadshow events for 2024, but we are looking forward to being part of future roadshows and connecting with communities further.

Special thanks to Gisborne District Council for organising.

State highway snapshot

Below is a snapshot of construction works either recently completed, underway or coming soon: 

SH2 recently completed  

• Otoko Slip Soldier Pile Walls

SH2 underway

• Otoko Hill Slip #2 - Hill stabilisation using soil anchors, shotcrete, and rirap (large rocks).
• Otoko Hill Slip #3 - Hill stabilisation and drainage improvements.
• Waikohu Bridge #3 - Repair scour around bridge pier with riprap (large rocks).

SH2 coming soon (November-December)

• Otoko Overslip #2 - Hill stabilisation using counterfort drains.

SH2 coming in early 2025

• Rakauoroa – Reinstate underslip using soil anchors and shotcrete (sprayed liquid concrete).
• Otoko Hill – Major drainage to stabilise slopes.
• Allen’s Existing Wall  – Reinstate underslip under existing wall using soil anchors and shotcrete (sprayed liquid concrete).

SH35 recently completed 

• Ihungia Road – Fix underslip with buttressing (supporting structure) and riprap (large rocks).
• Mangahauini Gabion Wall – Stage 1 – Buttress (supporting structure) and riprap (large rocks) at the bottom of the existing gabion wall to stabilise SH35 until Stage 2 works start.
• Mangakuri Stream Bridge – Riverbed and slopes lining with rock.
• Hikuwai Bridge No. 1 early investigations – Drilling for soil samples and using electro-seismic scanning to find underground obstructions to help with the bridge design.

SH35 underway 

• Oweka – Fix underslip with a reinforced buttress (supporting structure).
• Jeru Culvert – Replace culvert segments and clear out riverbed from built-up aggregate.
• Rotokautuku (Waiapu) Bridge repairs – Reinstate bridge bearings and strengthening works.
• Makarika Valley dropout #3 – Reinstating state highway to two lanes, buttress support and rip rap (large rocks) to prevent future river erosion.
• Kopuaroa 1 Stream Bridge – Scour protection beneath bridge using soil nails and shotcrete (sprayed liquid concrete).
• Whakaari Bluff rock revetment – Road buttressing (supporting structure) and rock revetment (protection) on a major scour by the Hikuwai river.
• Mangahauini Gorge Major Project early investigations  - Drilling for soil samples to help with the design of this major project.

SH35 coming in early 2025

• Te Anaputarua (Aka Whanarua) – Soldier pile wall with drainage improvements.
• Awatere Gully – Buttress wall with gabions (rock filled baskets) to repair the underslip.
• Kemps Culvert – Following the Stage 1 repair, reinstate the inlet/outlet of the culvert and construct further drainage improvements.
• Rotokautuku (Waiapu) Bridge – Repair the scour at the south end of the bridge and construct a major revetment with dolosse (interlocking concrete blocks) for futureproofing.
• Kopuaroa 1 Slip – Reinstate SH35 to two lanes by installing a soil anchor and shotcrete (sprayed liquid concrete) wall.
• Kopuaroa 2 – Build a 250m long buttress (supporting structure) to support SH35 and provide additional drainage.
• Mangahauini Gabion Wall – Stage 2 – Install 160x9m long anchors to permanently support SH35.

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.