Two-way traffic has been restored past the two largest slip sites on State Highway 2 through the Waiōweka Gorge.

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) confirmed that motorists can now travel in both directions past the Goldsmith and Snake Gully slips after an inspection on Monday deemed the sites safe to reopen.

A temporary speed limit of 50km/h remains in place.

NZTA Bay of Plenty area manager for asset and operations Sandra King said restoring two lanes at the Goldsmith site had been a priority since severe weather in January this year closed the highway for more than three weeks.

“It’s an important step forward for this vital connection between the Bay of Plenty and Tairāwhiti, and for the local communities, businesses and freight operators who rely on it,” King said.

“Restoring two-lane travel here ahead of the busy summer holiday season makes this milestone all the more welcome.”

The reopening follows months of recovery work, including ground investigations, slope stabilisation, rock removal and specialist construction.

A key feature of the recovery is a newly installed rockfall protection system at the Goldsmith slip.

The 45m-wide structure uses high-tensile steel mesh, cables and energy-absorbing components to slow and contain falling rock and debris. NZTA says it had already captured more than 10 cubic metres of material shortly after installation.

Further pavement upgrades are planned before Christmas, subject to weather and site conditions, with the aim of restoring the permanent speed limit through the area before the summer holiday rush.

King thanked contractors Higgins, Waiotahi, Geovert, Beca and Stellar Projects, with local hapū Ngāti Ira, for their contributions to the recovery effort.

“We also want to thank local communities and road users for their patience. We know this work has been long and disruptive,” she said.

While two-way traffic has returned at the Goldsmith and Snake Gully sites, several other locations through the gorge remain under single-lane traffic management as recovery work continues.

Snake Gully underslip on the left and Goldsmith overslip on the right back in January. Photo / NZTA

NZTA said the gorge remained vulnerable during severe weather and temporary closures or traffic controls could still be required for maintenance or in response to future weather events.

The Transport Agency is also assessing a range of locations throughout the gorge for longer-term resilience improvements, with a programme expected to be finalised in the coming months and construction anticipated to begin by April 2027.