After damage from the serious storm events that pummelled the North Island closed State Highway 23, the highway is poised to fully reopen in around a month’s time following finishing work.
The Hon. Nanaia Mahuta, Minister for Waikato Cyclone Recovery Efforts, was delighted to attend an event to bless and celebrate the reconnection of the restored highway with Ngaati Maahanga at Oomaero Marae in Whatawhata on Tuesday.
SH23, a crucial link between Whāingaroa/Raglan and Kirikiriroa/Hamilton was fully closed on 1 February after a serious under-slip developed during the Anniversary weekend flood events.
Access was restored on 4 March thanks to a temporary diversion road around the under-slip site through private property, while geotechnical engineers investigated and planned the long-term restoration of the highway, which involved a retaining wall supported by concrete piles drilled 10m into the slope.
Now, work to restore the original highway is almost complete. The Minister, iwi representatives and other dignitaries were escorted on to the site for a karakia and waerea, before returning to the marae for speeches.
Minister Mahuta praised the mahi of the many people whose efforts combined to achieve such a swift result for the community.
“This could not have been done without the generous co-operation of the landowners, or without the herculean efforts of our work team, who put in many long hours to make this solution a reality,” she says.
“We want to recognise the significant contribution from the landowners who allowed us to create the temporary diversion road, at considerable disruption to themselves. It was the only reason we could reopen to the public so quickly.
“We are delighted that SH23 is ready to reopen, restoring full road access for all traffic on this crucial link between Raglan and Hamilton, as we know how important it is to people in this community.”
When SH23 fully closed on 1 February there was no state highway alternative, and the detour routes were long, steep and winding, adding up to an hour to the journey.
Note: The original road will be open soon.
