Sense of freedom restored as State Highway 2 reopens

Tairāwhiti is reconnected south to Hawke’s Bay after 90 days of the highway being closed at two major sites — Devil’s Elbow and Waikare Gorge where the bridge was destroyed. A temporary Bailey bridge put in place there was officially blessed and opened at the weekend. Pictures supplied

The reopening of State Highway 2 south to Hawke’s Bay has come as a welcome relief to many in the region with the first vehicles travelling through Devil’s Elbow and Waikare Gorge on Sunday morning.

That stretch of the highway had been closed since Cyclone Gabrielle after suffering damage to around 100 sites, including the Waikare Gorge bridge which was destroyed.

A Bailey bridge has replaced that bridge while plans for a long-term replacement are finalised.

Community leaders marked the completion of the Bailey bridge on Saturday with an official ceremony that included a blessing by Ngāti Pāhauwera and Maungaharuru-Tangitu Trust.

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency regional manager of maintenance and operations Jaclyn Hankin said restoring access for communities up and down the highway had been the driving force for everyone working on the road to get it to this point.

“This highway is the backbone of these communities and we couldn’t have reached this milestone without the support and patience of everyone along the way.”

Wairoa district councillor Chaans Tumataroa-Clarke — a trustee for Ngāti Pāhauwera Development Trust — attended Saturday’s opening ceremony and said the bridge was more than just a physical structure.

“While the bridge itself connects us physically north and south of the Waikare, its completion enables a sense of freedom — a sense of psychological and spiritual reconnection between our whānau and communities.

“It signals a very significant step towards full regional rehabilitation, though the proverbial road ahead is longer still.”

Wairoa Mayor Craig Little said it was “tremendous to finally be able to celebrate the reopening”.

“This national highway is so much more than just a road.  It connects Wairoa to the rest of Hawke’s Bay, to our whānau and to vital services, including healthcare.”

Ms Hankin said the reopening did not signify the end of the road for repair and recovery.

“Contractors will continue to be present at a number of locations along the highway during daylight hours, working on areas with varying levels of damage.

“This means people driving through the area will see considerable traffic management in places and lower speed restrictions.”

Police have echoed her comments and called for extra care and patience from motorists using the highway

“Drive to the conditions and be considerate of other people on the road, including roadworkers, especially in areas where the road is down to one lane, such as the Waikare Gorge Bailey bridge.”

Ms Hankin said  this stretch of SH2 suffered the most damage of any of the NZTA networks, largely due to the topography of the surrounding area.

“We’re incredibly grateful to our contractors and bridge engineers for their hard work and commitment in getting the road to this point,” she said.

Hastings District Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst echoed those sentiments.

“We are immensely relieved that access has been restored for our isolated communities, particularly for our rural residents in and around Putorino and Tutira, who have been cut off for so long.

“The highway is also incredibly important to the economies of Gisborne and Tairāwhiti, given it is a critical connection to Napier Port.”