Works to repair the cliff above State Highway 30, near Ruato Bay, will start soon after the $1.7million contract for the repairs was awarded to HEB construction.

HEB construction is expected to be on site from mid-August with the repairs expected to be completed by early December.

State Highway 30, near Ruato Bay, is down to one lane since the rock fall last year.

The work will consist of stabilising the rock face using anchor bolts and wire mesh.

The NZ Transport Agency says the investigation, design and consenting phases for the rock face works have taken longer than initially expected.

'This has been due to the need to find a design that ensures the highway remains open to traffic during construction and is appropriate for the challenging ground conditions and the surrounding environment,” says highways manager Brett Gliddon.

The original plan was to widen the road away from the rock face, and provide rockfall protection with a catch fence. But investigations concluded this would require fully closing the road for several weeks - causing significant issues for the local community and motorists.

Instead the agency has decided to keep the road in its current location and use wire mesh to protect the rock face.

'To stop any further rock falls a 400 metre steel mesh will be constructed to cover the entire cliff face.

'The mesh is similar to that used successfully along State Highway 36 in the Mangorewa Gorge between Rotorua and Tauranga.”

A single lane, with a concrete barrier for protection, will remain in place and will continue to be controlled by traffic lights throughout the repairs.

'We appreciate that there has been a considerable delay in getting the road fully open and want to express our thanks to local residents, drivers and the community for their patience while a suitable solution was identified to minimise any further disruption to motorists who use this road.”