Rock fall reduces SH30 to one lane at Rotoiti
State Highway 30 at Rotoiti, half way between Rotorua and Rotoma, is reduced to one lane and drivers are being advised to expect delays while workers continue to remove unstable rocks from the Rotoiti Cliffs.
Heavy rain and stormy weather conditions over the weekend undermined the stability of the cliffs causing rocks to fall onto SH30 on Sunday (12 August) night.
Workers are at present removing unstable rock through hand scaling of the rock face.
The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) is working with Rotorua District Council to assess and stabilise the Rotoiti Cliff face so the state highway can be fully reopened as soon as possible.
NZTA's Bay of Plenty state highways manager, Brett Gliddon says the rock face will need to be stabilised before the state highway can be fully reopened, a further assessment of the cliff will be undertaken early next week to determine if the unstable material has been completely removed.
"We apologise to drivers for the inconvenience caused, it is never ideal to partly close the road, we are doing everything possible to get the road fully reopened as quickly as possible."
Mr Gliddon says before starting their journeys people should check with the NZTA's freephone 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49), or its website www.highwayinfo.govt.nz for up-to-the-minute info on road conditions.