Huka Falls Road to close temporarily for repairs

22 May 2015

A section of Huka Falls Road will be closed for about three weeks in June to allow important repairs to be carried out.

From Tuesday June 2, the road will be closed to traffic just north of the entrance to the Huka Falls car park up to the Loop Road. Access to the Huka Falls car park will still be available when travelling from the south.

The section is being closed so contractors can repair part of the road that has subsided. Infrastructure manager Denis Lewis said a section of road alongside a bank above the Huka Falls car park was collapsing. If we don't take action now, the road could potentially fall away into the car park below, he said. We want to repair it so everyone can access Huka Falls safely.

The repairs will see the road excavated from the road edge back to the centreline over an area of 30 metres. Because the road is only six metres wide at this point, the decision was made to close the section of road to ensure the safety of contractors and the community.

Mr Lewis said the subsidence was visible and those using the road could see where the section had dropped about five centimetres.

The work is being fully funded by the New Zealand Transport Agency.

Emergency services and businesses in the area have been notified of the closure.

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Lisa Nairne Communications Manager 07 376 0762 027 839 8410

Vicki Waterhouse Communications Advisor 07 376 0718 027 484 2549

Taupo District Council

www.taupo.govt.nz