State Highway 2 through the Karangahake Gorge will be closed between 8pm and 5am on Wednesday and Thursday, for slip repair works east of Karangahake Village.

Further overnight closures may be required on Monday, December 16, and Tuesday, December 17.

Signage and cordons will be in place between Paeroa and Waihi.

NZTA acting Waikato transport system manager Rob Campbell says the slip repair works are being undertaken on a narrow section of road and there is not sufficient space to allow traffic past while works are underway.

'Our contractors are also taking advantage of the road closure to deliver other essential road maintenance tasks.”

Motorists are encouraged to plan ahead for their journeys.

'Detours for this route are significant and motorists are encouraged to plan their travel for outside closure times.

'The southbound detour takes motorists south on SH2 from Waihi to Tauranga, then onto State Highway 29 over the Kaimai Range, State Highway 24 to Matamata, State Highway 27 to Tatuanui and State Highway 26 to Paeroa. Motorists travelling from Paeroa take the same route, in the opposite direction.

'Northbound, motorists travelling from Waihi should take State Highway 25, turning onto State Highway 25A (Kopu-Hikuai Road) and then State Highway 26 between Kopu and Paeroa, with motorists travelling from Paeroa taking the same route, in reverse.”

The Transport Agency thanks motorists for their patience.

Plan ahead for a safe, enjoyable journey this summer. Keep up to date with:

• Traffic updates: nzta.govt.nz/traffic
• Facebook: facebook.com/NZTAWaikatoBoP
• Twitter: twitter.com/NZTAwaibop
• Journey planner: journeys.nzta.govt.nz

Phone: 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49)