Long road to recovery for transport links
A trio of properties in Golden Bay have been red-stickered as work continues on roads that were damaged across Tasman District during the extreme weather earlier this month.
Tasman District Council communications and change manager Chris Choat said the three houses – at Pōhara, Motupipi and Wainui – were affected by slips.
Another 13 properties between Richmond and Golden Bay had been yellow-stickered. Some had been affected by slips, others by flooding, Choat said.
Meanwhile, several roads remain closed yesterday across the district, while others were open with restrictions or caution advised.
In Golden Bay, Cobb Dam, Glenview, McCallum, Awaroa and Tōtaranui roads all remained closed as of 1pm yesterday.
A geotechnical inspection is being awaited after the collapse of the Dry River bridge on Glenview Rd, while McCallum Rd is affected by slips and a dropout. Repairs may take a month.
Council transportation manager Jamie McPherson said McCallum Rd had suffered from some ‘‘serious land instability’’.
Initially, there were even concerns about getting machinery in to start the repair work, he said. The contractor was now able to start, but it would be ‘‘one step at a time’’.
Crews working from either end to clear Tōtaranui Rd had ‘‘managed to join hands’’, McPherson said. ‘‘We’re hopeful that road will be able to be opened in the near future.’’ There was similar optimism for Awaroa Rd.
In addition to the local roads in Golden Bay, State Highway 60 at Bird’s Hill, north of Tākaka, was also closed. Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency said that each day, one lane of the highway would be open intermittently under a 30kph temporary speed limit for all traffic between 8am and 9am, noon and 1pm, 3pm and 4pm, and 6pm and 7am.
Elsewhere in Tasman District, a large rock and other debris are blocking Mangles Valley Rd, near Murchison, which is closed until further notice.
A detour is available via Tutaki Rd South and Braeburn Track. No pedestrian access is permitted, as the slip has been identified as having loose material that could fall at any time.
Stafford Drive, above McKee Domain at Ruby Bay, also remains closed due to slips.
McPherson said the council was awaiting advice before any decision was made on a course of action.
The council said safety, costs and future liabilities were important factors that needed to be weighed up for that section of Stafford Drive.
The recommended detour, particularly for large vehicles, is via Te Mamaku Drive – the Ruby Bay bypass section of State Highway 60.