Coromandel slip not expected to be cleared until next week

File photo / APN

A large slip blocking State Highway 25 in the Coromandel is unlikely to be fully cleared until next week, New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) says.

Tropical cyclone Wilma caused two months' worth of rain to fall in 12 hours in Auckland, Coromandel, Bay of Plenty and Waikato over the weekend, resulting in widespread flooding, slips and power outages.

The massive slip of 3000m of debris completely closed State Highway 25 at Ruamahanga Bay, 15km north of Thames, since Saturday morning.

One lane access through the road was hoped to be reached tomorrow, NZTA regional operations manager Trevor Fearnley said, but the highway was unlikely to be fully cleared this week.

Meanwhile, Thames-Coromandel District Council was warning that smaller roads which have been limited to one lane following slips were vulnerable to further slips.

"A portion of the Tapu-Coroglen Road gave way under a car yesterday, causing a brief closure of that section, but was cleared by yesterday evening," a council spokesman said.

- NZPA