Opotiki to Gisborne via East cape: Corridor management plan 2018-2028 Plan
- Author
- New Zealand Transport Agency
- Year
- 2018
- Pages
- 39
- Summary
- The Opotiki to Gisborne corridor, State Highway 35 is the only road that circuits the East Cape of the North Island from Opotiki in the Eastern BoP to Gisborne on the east coast. SH35 was originally a Maori designation road, fully constructed in 1929. It serves the majority of the regional rural population as it is the only transport route linking local communities throughout the East Cape. The corridor follows the Eastern BoP coast from Opotiki to Waihau Bay, before heading slightly inland crossing the regional boundary into the Gisborne Region. The corridor is approximately 335 km long (2.9% of the state highway network). The total value of assets along the corridor is $403M (1.7% of the total national asset value). The corridor is fairly consistent in nature, being a two-lane opposing road, narrow for large sections, with frequent bends and steep undulating topography and geometry. Opotiki to Waihau Bay is characterised by its coastal setting on the west side and native forests to the east, single-lane bridges and small rural communities. The remaining alignment of the corridor south of Hicks Bay through to the east of Gisborne is inland through farmland, forestry and local communities. The corridor follows alongside the Waiapu River to Ruatoria, gradually rises towards its highest point of 271m near Tokomaru Bay, dropping steeply in to the coastal town, before rising back to a similar height and descending again towards Gisborne. SH35 is the key connection for East Cape community services including healthcare, education, and food and fuel access as well as for exporting local products. Customers using this corridor are generally locals, driving between home and employment, accessing local services and distributing goods. There is a good understanding of the road conditions and its limits. The corridor is occasionally subject to closure due to storms and flooding, resulting in disruption to business sustainability and extensive detours for all other users. SH35 is the only road around the majority of the East Cape, which is also the freight route and access for local communities and commercial enterprise. Population stagnation and possible decline in the Eastern Bay of Plenty (BoP) and Gisborne Region is a current concern. Investment opportunities are available to reverse the decline, however increasing local, national and international based traffic using the corridor increases pressures on the local road network. Freight using this corridor is generally bound for the Port of Tauranga for international distribution as well as collecting supplies for the region, and transferring timber to Eastland Port in Gisborne. Inter-regional freight distributes local produce to key servicing locations, The East Cape is heavily reliant on the resilience of the corridor, with local fruit producers in particular susceptible to closures. Local growers include kiwifruit and stone fruits, which are perishable and have a short shelf life. The long-term sustainability of local business relies on their produce reliably getting to market. There has been recent promotion of value-adding crops in the region to bring further investment and greater opportunities for local employment. Tourism and local recreation is an additional opportunity and risk for the corridor, being an extra source of revenue, along with an increase of traffic, potential delay for freight and locals, and greater infrastructure requirements. Corridor resilience is the primary concern for State Highway 35, with the corridor being the only route for East Cape communities and business. A road closure in the event of flooding, slips, rockfalls and wind/waves can limit the economic sustainability of the region. Management of weather events and general incidents is paramount, but this corridor has areas of low resilience and high vulnerability to service disruption. The East Cape has a variety of potential futures. The corridor may require limited investment to realise its full potential. The corridor has a section that is full HPMV capable between Tolaga Bay and Gisborne. Expanding the capability may open opportunities for business expansion and investment