The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) is urging motorists in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty regions to take care driving following heavy rains last night and continued heavy showers today.
All state highways remain open but according to NZTA operations manager Karen Boyt, the agency will be monitoring the situation closely unti the rain eases.
“There is surface flooding in some areas of both regions and in others, small slips are undergoing cleanups by road crews,” says Ms Boyt.
“Motorists can still drive through these areas but we’d ask that they drive to the conditions to ensure their own safety and that of our road crews.”
Traffic controls are currently operating in Waikato on State Highway 29, just before the summit on the Matamata side of the Kaimai Ranges, SH 26, between Paeroa and Te Aroha and between Paeroa and Hikutaia, and SH1, between the SH 29 turnoff and the Maungatautari Road turnoff.
In the Coromandel traffic controls are operating on SH 25 on the Thames side of the Coromandel and minor slips at Ruamahanga, Tapu and Kereta means access is temporarily down to one lane in those areas.
In the Bay of Plenty SH 25A is now open after fallen trees were cleared from the road this morning.
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