NZTA Waka Kotahi is reminding road users of two important road closures next week.

In the North Island, SH2 at Devil’s Elbow north of Napier will be closed overnight for five nights from this Sunday 3 November as the rebuild of the cyclone damaged Devil’s Elbow continues.

The state highway between Tūtira and Aropaoanui Road, north of Napier, will be closed from 9pm to 5am each night between Sunday and Thursday 7 November. The road will be open as normal from 5am on Friday 8 November.

The work is weather dependent and the contingency period is Sunday 10 November to Thursday 14 November, 9pm-5am each night.

During daytime hours, the road will be under traffic management through the Devil’s Elbow section.

Devil’s Corner, labelled Project I, will be the largest, and last, of the recovery projects in the SH2 Devil’s Elbow section. Cyclone Gabrielle caused a significant underslip that damaged the southbound lane of SH2 at the corner.

The lower section of Devil’s Elbow is reduced temporarily to a single lane this week while a final layer of asphalt is laid. It’ll be back to two lanes long-term from mid-November.

In the South Island night and daytime closures for maintenance get underway on SH60 Tākaka Hill between Sunday 3 November and Sunday 24 November. The road will be closed every Sunday to Thursday from 8pm to 5:30am, with a short opening around 1am for queued traffic.

Then from Monday, 25 November, until Friday, 29 November the highway will be closed from 9 am to 3 pm. During this time, the road will be reopened every 90 minutes to let traffic through.

Contractors will spend the first two weeks of night-time closures asphalting parts of the road surface on both sides of the hill. They will also carry out other work, such as clearing water channels, fixing slips and guard rails, and completing general maintenance. Chipsealing will then be carried out during the day-time closures.

Because of the road’s narrowness and to keep contractors safe, the road must be closed while the work is done.

NZTA/Waka Kotahi appreciates the Tākaka Hill is a vital transport link for residents and local businesses which is why day-time access on the route is ensured. Day closures are timed to avoid the school bus run and peak commuting times.