Freight firm over the moon and hill

News the Takaka Hill has reopened to truck and trailer units this week is ‘‘bloody wonderful’’, Golden Bay’s largest freight company’s owner says.

Truck and trailer units were on the Takaka Hill Rd yesterday for the first time since a storm badly damaged it on February 20, under certain conditions.

‘‘It eases the situation a lot more,’’ Sollys freight owner Merv Solly said on Monday. ‘‘The restrictions and timing will still be a problem, but it will generally speed up things no-end. If we still have to sit there all day though and wait, it will be a problem.’’

Sollys has been been hit with a $600,000 loss following severe damage to the only road out of the area during ex-cyclone Gita. The business has seen a 70 per cent increase in costs since the cyclone.

Truck and trailer units will be able to travel over the hill in the 6am–8am and 5pm–7pm convoys, without permit.

The lunchtime freight run is open for permitted truck and trailer units, and buses.

Extensive slips and wash-outs means Takaka Hill, the only access road to the Bay, has had restricted access for the past four weeks.

Larger vehicles and trucks with trailers have been banned on the road since it was damaged. This has meant Sollys and other companies have to use smaller trucks to make more trips.

NZ Transport Agency network manager Frank Porter said crews had resurfaced damaged sections of the highway, after they were widened to accommodate truck and trailer units.

‘‘The crews have worked incredibly hard to reach this milestone,’’ he said.

The road will be open for Easter, but cyclists and pedestrians are still unable to travel on it.

The NZTA has seen an average of 1000 vehicles travel the hill each day.’’The number is steadily rising, which is great news for Golden Bay,’’ Porter said.