The bypass around the Maraenui slip was officially opened today by the New Zealand Transport Agency.

A series of slips over the former section of State Highway 35 in March 2011 irreparably damaged the old highway, forcing the agency to upgrade an abandoned logging track on the inland side of the hill at a cost of about $12 million.

The new Maraenui Hill bypass on SH35 was officially opened today.

At the official road opening this morning Maraenui elders blessed the new road with local MP Anne Tolley and Opotiki Deputy Mayor and local resident Haki McRoberts in attendance.

The local kura kaupapa performed a Kapa Haka after the opening ceremony.

Acting Bay of Plenty state highways manager Nigel D'Ath, says the opening marks the end of a challenging 19 month project that involved moving approximately 260,000 cubic metres of earth material, managing moving traffic while construction activity continued and dealing with some severe weather conditions, which put a hold on construction activity for a month.

'The hillside had to be benched extensively to minimise the likelihood of slips falling onto the road and the logging track had to be upgraded to two lanes to meet our state highway standards.”

Mr D'Ath says the completion of the new road is a blessing for local industries and residents who have been very supportive during the construction period despite some minor disruptions when the road had to be closed intermittently to allow machinery to remove material from the site.

With the tourist season getting into the full swing, the new road will also be much appreciated by holiday makers who like to travel along this coastal route, he says.