Rain closes roads to the north again

State Highway 35 from Opotiki to Gisborne around East Cape closed again at the weekend, as the weather continued its assault on the district’s roads.

More rain in recent days has added to the list of closed roads, and to the large weather-related bill for roading repairs.

On Thursday a large slip came down across SH35 near Whitianga Bay, and completely closed the road.

The slip came down just north of the Motu River mouth, where earlier a slip had closed the highway at Motu Bluffs.

The New Zealand Transport Agency said on Saturday the slip was still developing, but workmen toiled through the weekend and the road was open by this morning

A tree fell across the highway just south of the Whangaparaoa River and closed the road until it could be sawn up and removed.

Weekend traffic was warned of multiple slips and dropouts at a number of places, and NZTA said the road was down to one lane in a number of locations.

Rain at the end of the week on top of what had already fallen has also put more work on the Gisborne District Council’s problem list.

As of this morning, 10 district roads were closed with caution notices for another two.

Roads closed in the past few days are:

Tokata Road, with flooding affecting both sides of the road; Waikura Road, with a slip completely blocking the road; Anaura and Waiomatatini roads, closed by flooding; Te Kumi Road, closed by a washout.

From earlier weather events, Tarndale Road, Tarewa Road, Mangatokerau Road and Poroporo Road remain closed.

The Motu Road is four-wheel- drive only, and caution is advised there and on Armstrong Road.

While the southern areas of the district have escaped much of the recent weather, the East Cape area and down into the eastern Bay of Plenty has been hit hard.

The weather forecast offers no relief, with more rain predicted over the next few days.

The MetService outlook is for rain starting tomorrow and lasting through to next weekend, with showers to follow.

Gauges in the ranges and coastal areas of East Cape have recorded as much as 200mm-plus in some places over the past five days, on top of the rainstorm earlier in the month.

The daily climate maps produced by the National Institute for Water and Atmospheric Research show soil moisture levels are right up to capacity over most of the district.