Repair work on slip-hit road finally finished

Kawakawa Bay's main road has been fully opened - more than a year after a large landslip caused by heavy rain forced its closure.

Residents in the area, southeast of Auckland, were forced to make a 90-minute trip around the coast to reach the city.

Other locals resorted to using two cars, driving from home to the slip site, walking up the hill and then driving to work or school in another car on the other side.

Yesterday, the Manukau City Council announced that the Clevedon-Kawakawa Bay road was now fully opened after more than 11 months' work on stabilising the landslip site so commuters can travel safely.

A single lane has been in use since last September, when a helicopter with a 1300-litre monsoon bucket was used to dislodge unstable bits of the cliff above the road.

Council economic director Rick Walden said more than 100,000cu m of earth had been removed from the hillside.

"It's been a challenging project - managing the earthworks, drilling on a steep and confined site and keeping in mind the safety of workers and public alike," Mr Walden said.

The $4.5 million project has involved the construction of a 25m high embankment at the bottom of the landslip and a 4km drainage system drilled into the cliff to improve soil strength.

A retaining wall will be built in February and March to support the road edge and more of the bank will be trimmed.

"I want to acknowledge the residents of Kawakawa Bay and Orere Pt who have been very patient with only a single lane," Mr Walden said.

"It's been a long project and we're pleased now that the works are coming to an end."