The road through Karangahake Gorge is now re-open to essential travel, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency said tonight.
Extreme caution is still required due to remaining areas of debris and mud on the road, and slippery surfaces.
Some sections of the road have 30km/h or 50km/h temporary speed limits in place.
Clean up works will resume tomorrow, February 16. Road users should expect disruption and delays when travelling through this area.
Meanwhile, sections of State Highway 25 have also reopened.
Access is now restored between Thames and Matarangi via Waihi. Slips between Hikuai and Whangamata have also been cleared and essential travel is now possible.
Some towns in the east coast, such as Whitianga and Tairua can now leave the peninsula and supplies can get in.
SH25 is still closed between Ruamahunga Bay and Tapu due to an emerging slip with suspended trees.
SH25 from Te Rerenga to Kūaotunu is also closed with major slips. Emergency services are still able to get through via private land, but this detour is unavailable to the public.
Many of the open sections of SH25 are one lane only and road users should expect significant disruption and delays due to ongoing clean up works. Drivers are urged to only undertake essential travel.
“It is Waka Kotahi’s top priority to restore access to isolated communities,” said Waka Kotahi’s Waikato system manager Cara Lauder.
“We appreciate how frustrating and disabling the road closures are for the Coromandel community and we want to thank everyone for their patience while we’re working to fully re-open the roads, ” Ms Lauder said.
