Major highway works continue at Otoko Hill

A cyclone-damaged stretch of State Highway 2 at Otoko Hill is being transformed with work to stabilise the hillside and make the area more flood-resilient ramping up over the coming months. 

Transport Rebuild East Coast (Trec) crews are working their way up the highway at Otoko Hill. 

Since the cyclone, the focus has been on repairing and resurfacing the road, with several underslips fixed. 

Trec Tairāwhiti spokesman Richard Bayley said attention had turned to stabilising the hill surrounding the road and improving drainage to minimise the potential for slips to move again in the future. 

“Extensive drainage systems will be installed to reduce water build-up and large metal soil anchors and shotcrete (a type of concrete sprayed on to a surface using a high-pressure hose) will be used to stabilise the hillside and reduce land movement. “Work to reinstate the road shoulder and install safety barriers, along with culvert improvements, will also get under way.” 

Nine recovery projects are planned to make the Otoko Hill section of highway more resilient and minimise road closures following future weather events. Another three are planned on SH2 between Gisborne and the Bay of Plenty boundary. 

“We know this is an important connection — especially for freight — between Bay of Plenty and Gisborne. The drainage and stabilisation work is crucial for making this a more resilient route, creating a safe and resilient journey for all road users,” Bayley said. 

Recovery work was expected to continue through to late 2025. Ongoing maintenance and renewals were also being planned ahead of the summer roadworks season. 

Traffic management, including traffic lights operating a one-way system, will remain in place where required and people should expect delays when travelling through. 

Bayley said Trec had staged the recovery work to minimise disruptions, and staff would continue to monitor travel times to see if changes were needed. 

“We’d like to thank everyone for their patience while the work is carried out.”