Goodbye, stop-gos and temporary traffic lights.

After three years, cyclone repair works have now concluded along State Highway 2 (SH2) between Napier and Wairoa, and State Highway 5 (SH5) between Napier and Taupō.

Final asphalting around Devil’s Elbow was completed at the end of March, marking the end of major cyclone repairs for SH2, while repairs concluded on SH5 in December.

Those two major highways were battered during Cyclone Gabrielle in February 2023.

Slips and under-slips took out large sections of highway, culverts (large pipes) were destroyed, the Waikare Gorge bridge was washed away, and Devil’s Elbow was left unrecognisable.

State Highway 2 at Devil's Elbow after Cyclone Gabrielle. Photo / Warren Buckland

In total, there were about 65 repair sites across SH2 (between Wairoa and Napier) and SH5 (between Napier and Taupō).

The Devil’s Elbow rebuild, a section of winding road along SH2, north of Napier, proved to be the lengthiest and most complex repair job.

Transport Minister Chris Bishop said completing that project was “a huge milestone”.

“I am pleased to see the repair work at Devil’s Elbow on SH2 completed, which will make a real difference for road users.

“Since Cyclone Gabrielle, crews have delivered 11 recovery projects through Devil’s Elbow [alone] including nine major under-slip repairs, rock scaling, repairs to the Devil’s Elbow main culvert, a comprehensive culvert replacement and repair programme to better manage stormwater runoff, and a new 12-metre-high retaining wall.”

The repair jobs (blue dots) on SH2 and SH5 that have been completed over the past three years. Photo / TREC

While repair works have concluded for those two major highways in Hawke’s Bay, resilience projects remain in the pipeline.

That includes raising SH2 at Whirinaki and plans for a new Waikare Gorge bridge and realignment, which will replace the existing and temporary Waikare Gorge bridge.

An update from Transport Rebuild East Coast (TREC), a joint group run by NZ Transport Agency and KiwiRail, thanked the 90 local contractors and suppliers who have worked on highway and rail repairs across the East Coast since the cyclone.

“We’re also grateful to the Hawke’s Bay community, freight and other road users for your ongoing patience,” the update stated.

“Repairing such a large volume of significant damage takes time.

The Waikare Gorge bridge after it was washed away. A new bridge has been erected in its place. Photo / Rosie Tong

“We appreciate the support and goodwill shown to our hard-working construction and traffic teams.”

The only state highway with remaining cyclone repairs in Hawke’s Bay is State Highway 38, where under-slips between Lake Waikaremoana Holiday Park and Tuai are due for completion in June.

Recovery work on SH50 and SH51 in Hawke’s Bay is also complete.