Storm repairs to temporarily close Waikare Road link

Contractors will begin work on Wednesday 7 February to repair a major slip and install a stormwater culvert on Waikare Road, which links State Highway 11 near Kawakawa, and Russell Whakapara Road.

**UPDATE - 7 Feb.**

Following requests for more details from readers, we can confirm that: 

• The work is located at Rapid number 11160, which is roughly 11km from SH11.
• Road works will be underway daily between 7am and 5pm.
• There may also be Saturday work depending upon progress of the project. This will also run 7am-5pm.  
• The road will open to traffic on hour, every hour (i.e. at 8am, 9am, 10am and so on) for 10-15 minutes and then close again to allow heavy drilling equipment to resume work. 
• The road will be open to all traffic after work finishes at 5pm with speed restrictions applied.   

The work, which is to repair damage caused by last year’s storms, will take approximately four weeks to complete. 

Residents and local groups have been advised of the project via a letter drop to mailboxes along Waikare Road. Schools have also been notified. School buses will be allowed through the work site during pick up and drop off times to accommodate the school run.

Waikare Road links Karetu and Waikare and is often used as an alternative route to Russell and Rawhiti.