The latest weather system has a sting in its tail for the Coromandel with a front currently moving eastwards across the Bay of Plenty.
It is expected to reverse direction today and move back towards the Coromandel Peninsula.
MetService has issued a Heavy Rain Watch for the Hunua Ranges and Coromandel Peninsula for the 18 hours from midday Thursday to 6am Friday. Periods of heavy showers or rain are possible.
MetService says total rainfall accumulations (around 30 to 50 mm) through the period would not normally be sufficient to issue a Watch, but due to the recent heavy rains these lesser amounts may still cause issues for the region.
With the current state of the areas roads, Thames-Coromandel District Council is advising people to avoid unnecessary travel through this period. If you do need to travel, they advise people to pack a supply of food, water and any medications and ensure they have sufficient fuel should there be a sudden slip or road closure and they need to take the lengthy detour around the Coromandel to get home.
State Highway Closures:
SH25 Ruamahunga (Thames Coast Road) CLOSED: Rock fall between Waiomu and Ruamahunga. This will be closed all day as geotech and abseil teams assess the condition of the face. We expect an update this afternoon on estimated opening time; however, clearance works are not expected to begin until this afternoon at the earliest depending on conditions.
SH25a Kopu-Hikuai CLOSED
State Highway Road Hazards and Expected Delays:
SH2 Karangahake Gorge: ROAD HAZARD: SLIP between Paeroa and Waihi (Karangahake Gorge) is open to one lane under stop/go management.
SH25 Thames Coast to Coromandel Town: DELAYS: There will be stop/go management in various locations with 30kmh temporary speed restrictions in place. Noting that there is a complete closure at Ruamahunga Bay.
SH25 Coromandel Town to Whitianga: DELAYS: There will be stop/go management in various locations with 30kmh temporary speed restrictions in place.
Local Road Closures:
The 309 Road CLOSED – Road is also impassable 11km from the Coromandel Town end due to a large slip.
Tapu-Coroglen Road is CLOSED and impassable for the foreseeable future. Location is 10km from Tapu.
Kennedy Bay Road will be OPEN to one lane (7am – 7pm).
Colville Road – CLOSED due to a slip between Oamaru and Amodeo bay – Road is being assessed by geotech today.
Neavesville Road – CLOSED (Road is impassable at the 4km mark) – Road will remain closed for the foreseeable future.
Te Kouma Road – CLOSED – Large slips continue to come down. Road is expected to remain closed for the majority of the day.
Otamakite Road – CLOSED – Road is impassable from the 4km mark – Road will remain closed for the foreseeable future.
OPEN TO ONE LANE:
Kennedy Bay Road
Tuateawa Road
Port Charles Road
Black Jack Road
Waiomu Valley Road – Flooding at the ford
Victoria Street, Tararu
Port Jackson Rd
OPEN:
Old Maratoto Road – Open
Hikuai Settlement Road – Open
The current situation with ongoing road closures is a creating a lot of stress for many of us. ‘Here to help u’ is available to support people and whānau when things are tough. Providing FREE mental health support, financial and budgeting support, employment support, food support, general support, and much more. It only takes two minutes to request help online so reach out for help if you are finding things tough
