Temporary road to open for business

Work conitnues to clear the huge amounts of debris from the slip that closed State Highway 2 in the Waioeka Gorge. Photo / Alan Gibson

The imminent opening of a temporary road through the Waioeka Gorge is expected to bring relief to residents and businesses nearly a month after a massive slip closed the vital link between Gisborne and Opotiki.

Gisborne Mayor Meng Foon said the long closure of State Highway 2 through the gorge, blocked when more than 80,000cu m of slip material came down on March 3 and nearly buried contractors who were clearing a slip from the day before, had affected many in Gisborne and on the East Coast.

NZTA planned to open the single-lane temporary diversion route by 9am today, conditional on a geological safety survey early this morning.

Those affected included patients having to make lengthier trips to other hospitals for specialist care, accommodation providers losing guests and businesses facing delays over produce shipments.

Transport operators were among those most feeling the pinch.

Robert Monk Transport, which used the gorge for daily runs between Auckland and Gisborne, had been forced to add an extra 196km and four hours' driving time on to its trips.

Mr Monk estimated the extra cost of fuel, road user charges and driver accommodation had run to $105,000.

He was among operators who vented their frustration at NZTA officials at a site visit earlier this week.

"Thirty-five years ago, we would have been up there with machines, pushing it into the river and getting a track through."

But acting state highway manager Gordon Hart rejected the comment, saying crews had been working as quickly as possible.