State Highway traffic into and out of Hawke’s Bay was again disrupted on Friday when temporary Woodville to Manawatū key route Saddle Rd was closed because of a spill from a truck.
The spill was reported about 2.30am.
Police and state highways management agency Waka Kotahi NZTA had expected the road, a windy hill road which has been the main route since the closure of State Highway 3 through the Manawatū Gorge five years ago, would be closed until early afternoon.
NZTA announced about 10.45am it had reopened, but with temporary speed limits of 30km/h, to be reviewed later in the day, and was advising motorists to take extra care, and be aware of the extra time needed for their journeys.
Saddle Rd is the preferred temporary main highway route with an alternative through the Pahiatua Track, pending the opening of the $620km, 11.5km Te Ahu a Turanga Manawatu Tararua Highway, scheduled for the end of next year.