Far North school students stay home as washout blocks highway but convoys to be escorted on forest track bypass

March 26, 2018

Hundreds of students won't be able to go to school after part of SH1 was washed out in heavy rains.

Hundreds of students won't be able to go to school in the Far North today after part of State Highway One was washed out in heavy rains.

A large hole around 20 metres wide and over four metres deep opened up late Friday afternoon on the road, north of Kaitaia.

Workers are trying to repair the section of road because there are no diversions.

Motorists are being advised not to use Ninety Mile Beach as an alternative.

The New Zealand Transport Agency says it's coordinating with forest owners, police and the Far North District Council to allow escorted convoys for essential travel on a forest track bypassing the washout on SH1.

The Transport Agency, police and local authorities have been advising motorists against using the forest route over the weekend because it's an unsealed route over private land and considered unsafe for cars, camper vans and buses. 

Summit Forestry, the land owner, also said the route was not suitable for private vehicles.

But now agreement has been reached to open the route under police supervision for a short time this morning and evening, says NZTA Northland System Manager Jacqui Hori-Hoult.

This morning there will be a 7.30am departure for southbound traffic from the corner of Far North Road and Trig Road, and an 8.15am departure for northbound vehicles from 113 Hukatere Road at the end of the sealed section.

In the evening the southbound convoy will leave at 5.30pm with the northbound convoy leaving at 6.15pm. 

The convoys will depart promptly and any vehicle that arrives after the convoy has departed won't be able to use the route says Ms Hori-Hoult.

There will be no opportunity to make the return journey in between these times.

The convoys are for essential travel only.  If you don’t have to travel, please delay your journey until the state highway is open, Ms Hori-Hoult said.

This alternative forestry route is a single muddy track which is suitable for four wheel drive vehicles. Police will be assessing vehicles and drivers for suitability before they can join the convoy. 

Police will escort traffic through the area and the travel time is about 40 minutes.

Meanwhile Ms Hori-Hoult says work crews are making good progress on rebuilding the road to reopen it to traffic by the middle of the week. 

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