Motu Road Re-opening date confirmed
Ōpōtiki District Council is pleased to confirm that Motu Road is scheduled to reopen on Friday, 18 September at 12pm, subject to completion of the remaining safety works.
Council acknowledges that the closure of Motu Road has been in place for some time and we are pushing progress as quickly and safely as we can to ensure local residents, regular road users, and the cycling groups who rely on the Motu Road experience are reconnected.
Geotechnical specialists completed their final inspections in late August and have since confirmed, through stability modelling and assessment, that the road is suitable for reopening, subject to ongoing monitoring, maintenance and the completion of recommended delineation work and safety signage.
Residual instability remains possible, particularly following rainfall, groundwater seepage and ongoing weathering. Council has appropriate monitoring, response procedures and traffic management controls in place, and will undertake further geotechnical review if significant new instability is identified.
The geotechnical assessments also identified that additional edge delineation improvements and safety signage should be completed prior to re-opening and these have now been actioned.
During this closure period, Council also progressed the Papamoa crossing improvements which were approved as part of council’s 2024-2034 Long-Term Plan. This work is also now complete.
On opening, safety signs will be in place around the installed edge delineation advising motor vehicle users (in particular) to not stop and park along the edge to inspect the land changes around the slip site.
We ask that all users please adhere to this requirement for their safety and the safety of others.
Council would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge and thank the residents, landowners, businesses, community groups and other stakeholders who have been directly impacted by the closure. We recognise the challenges and disruption this event has caused and greatly appreciate the patience, understanding and support shown throughout the recovery process.
We would also like to thank all our contractors for their immense effort in getting the road re-opened. Their expertise and dedication have provided Council with the confidence to reopen the road with appropriate controls and ongoing monitoring in place.
The Motu Road is recognised as an important part of our local transport network, providing a critical connection for residents, businesses, emergency services, and visitors to one of our most remote areas and neighbouring district.
Council will continue to take a risk-based approach to managing the site following reopening, including ongoing inspections and increased monitoring during periods of heavy rainfall. Should conditions change, appropriate traffic management measures will be implemented, and residents, stakeholders and the community will be kept informed.
