Bid to fix up access to top of Far North

Access to the top of the Far North is limited as crews work to repair a washout which punched a 20m-wide hole in the road.

State Highway 1 south of Pukenui was closed after a washout between Whalers and Lamb Rds, leaving no other appropriate routes between Kaitaia and Cape Reinga until at least Wednesday.

Extra police staff are on the roads to help with emergencies and the washout will cause some disruptions for local schools as well as for tourists wanting to visit the Cape Reinga lighthouse.

NZ Transport Agency Northland system manager Jacqui Hori-Hoult said they were on course to reopen the road by the middle of this week after it washed out on Friday.

“There is a significant workforce and heavy lifting equipment on site and we are working to have one lane open to traffic as soon as possible but that is unlikely to be before the middle of the week,” she said.

Last night a police escort which bypassed the washout was being organised by police, NZTA and the Far North District Council for essential travel.

The alternative forestry route was a single muddy track which was only suitable for 4WD vehicles.

An agreement had been made to open the track for a short time in the morning and evening, Hori-Hoult said.

Police would be assessing vehicles and drivers for suitability before they could join the convoys. Motorists will travel at their own risk and any vehicle that arrived after the convoy had departed would not be able to use the route. — Northern Advocate