Flooding closes Coromandel roads

The NZ Transport Agency says flooding has closed roads in the Coromandel and people should avoid all non-essential travel.

State Highway 25 is closed in three places:

• State Highway 25 is closed south of Tairua. There is a detour in place to the north of Whitianga. It will add an hour one hour and twenty minutes to a journey.
• State Highway 25 is closed north of Whangamata at Opoutere. There is currently now detour available.
• State Highway 25 is closed near Whangamata. The detour is through Whangamata town.

The Transport Agency’s Regional Performance Manager, Karen Boyt, says people should avoid all non-essential travel in the Coromandel peninsula.

“Our contractors are currently out checking the roads and we are expecting the closures we have so far to be in place for several hours at least.

“For now people should stay off the roads if they can because there is a high risk of flooding and slips,” Ms Boyt says.

 UPDATE: 8 March 2017 11:48 a.m

State Highway 25 between Kopu and Thames is now open to one lane. Please drive with extra care as there is still flooding in the northbound lane.

• State Highway 25 at Whiritoa is closed because of slips.
• State Highway 25 at Whangamata is closed because of flooding.
• State Highway 25 at Tairua is closed because of flooding.
• State Highway 25 from Kereta to Te Kouma is closed because of flooding.
• State Highway 25 at Whitianga is closed because of flooding.

Check the latest weather here: http://bit.ly/metservicenz(external link)

Motorists can get real time information from:

• 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49)
• www.nzta.govt.nz/traffic(external link)

For Waikato/Bay of Plenty updates

• www.facebook.com/NZTAWaikatoBoP/(external link)
• www.twitter.com/NZTAWaiBoP(external link)