Take care on Otaki Gorge Road

A slip on the upper stretches of Ōtaki Gorge Road will reduce traffic to a single lane during the Christmas and New Year period.

The dropout is at the notorious Devil's Elbow bend of the road, about 10km from State Highway 1.

Council’s Network Contracts Engineer Neil Williams says the area is prone to slips.

“There are already two stretches of retaining wall on this bend and the latest dropout has occurred right between the two.

“We will be placing barriers on site and the road will be down to a three-metre single lane over Christmas and New Year until we can get a new wall designed and constructed.”

Contractors Downer will be monitoring the site over the break.

In the meantime, travellers to Ōtaki Forks (a popular picnic and camping area) need to take care negotiating the single-lane stretch.