NZTA hopeful Takaka Hill will soon open to trucks and trailers

Trucks and trailer units may soon be able to make the journey over the Takaka Hill and the road may be open all day over the Easter period.

New Zealand Transport Agency system manager Frank Porter said crews had been making ‘‘good progress’’ while the weather had been dry, clearing the road and making it safer and more resilient.

This has meant that truck and trailer units will soon be able to drive over storm-ravaged hill.

Takaka Hill Road was badly damaged by ex-cyclone Gita just over two weeks ago, restricting access to the only road in and out of Golden Bay. Although there was no confirmed date at this stage for opening up the highway to trucks with trailer units and overdimension vehicles, the Transport Agency said it was hopeful it could be in two weeks’ time.

‘‘We know that freight providers and farmers need these truck and trailer units to get across the hill efficiently and that the single trucks’ restriction is adding to costs,’’ Porter said.

Opening hours this week would continue to be the same.

Currently the road open hours are Monday to Saturday inclusive, mornings and nights only, 7-8am and 5-6pm. On Sundays, people can travel by convoy all day 8am to 5pm.

Porter also said it was aiming to offer extended opening hours in coming days, such as earlier in the mornings and later at night.

The road will be open 8am – 5pm all of Easter, Good Friday to Easter Monday inclusive.

On Thursday night, March 29, it would be opening from 5pm and is likely to be extended later so that people know they can travel to/ from Golden Bay for their holiday break without the need to rush.

NZTA is aiming to open up the road to be used normally after Easter.

Without convoys, outside of the daytime construction work, ie outside of 8am to 5pm Monday to Saturday, including overnight.

‘‘Repairs will be ongoing for some time and they cannot be undertaken safely or efficiently while there is traffic on the road,’’ Porter said.

Porter also reminded drivers that crews are unable to give priority to some people in the queue over others.

‘‘We will work to get everyone waiting over, and our crews are there to get people over as quickly as is safely possible.‘‘

NZTA would communicate any changes to people as soon as they are confirmed and the Traffic and Travel page information would also be updated.