Planned daytime closures of State Highway 2 through the Karangahake Gorge next week have been postponed due to unfavourable weather conditions.

The closures, which were scheduled for Monday, April 13, and Tuesday, April 14, will not go ahead as forecast rain is expected to raise river levels beyond safe operating conditions, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) said.

The work involves urgent repairs to a damaged retaining wall and requires a large crane to straddle the road, as well as moderate river flows so divers can safely work underwater.

NZTA said the current and forecast weather has ruled out both requirements.

A further update will be provided once new dates are confirmed.

In the meantime, contractors continue to make progress on multiple storm recovery sites throughout the gorge. Lane closures and stop/go traffic management remain in place, with locations changing as work advances.

Retaining wall repairs

Urgent repairs were required on a retaining wall in the Karangahake Gorge between Paeroa and Waihī, following severe weather events in January.

NZTA said underwater cavities had formed in the foundations of the 1930s river wall.

Crews have already filled five smaller cavities with cement bags and have begun work on the largest cavity, which will require around 25cu m of concrete.

Damage under the road following January' storm. Photo / Paeroa Towing Services

Once repairs are completed, large rocks will be placed underwater at the base of the wall to prevent further scouring and movement.

Divers are required to guide the placement of the rock, meaning the work must be carried out in daylight and cannot proceed during periods of high or murky river flows.

“There isn’t enough room in the gorge to operate a large crane under a single lane closure, so a full closure is unavoidable,” regional maintenance and operations manager Roger Brady said.

Completing this work significantly reduces the risk of further damage and helps ensure the long-term resilience of SH2 through the gorge, Brady said.

If the protection work cannot be completed soon, rising river flows could undermine the repairs.

In a worst‑case scenario, failure of the wall could require a full month‑long closure to construct a temporary bridge.

Traffic management and detours

When full closures are required, detours will be available via SH25A–SH25 or SH29 over the Kaimai Range.

Resident access will be maintained at each end of the closure, and emergency services will remain available on both sides.

Visitors travelling from the Paeroa side will still be able to access the Karangahake Gorge carpark for walking tracks during closures.

Ongoing recovery work

The January storms caused damage at nine underslip sites throughout the gorge, reducing several sections of road to single-lane operation.

Repairs are well underway, though drivers should expect changing locations of lane closures and stop/go traffic as work progresses.

Coromandel’s highway network remains particularly vulnerable to weather events due to unstable terrain and exposed coastal conditions.

“We understand the frustration these disruptions cause and appreciate people’s patience,” Brady said.

“Taking the time to fully assess the damage and put the right fix in place means we can rebuild stronger and improve the resilience of the highway. Recent recovery work has already made a difference, with some routes sustaining only minor damage during the January storms and reopening quickly.”