GC3Q0EW Waioeka Gorge Big Slip 3.3.2012 (East Coast) (Traditional Cache) in North Island, New Zealand created by nzkeko

GC3Q0EW ▼

A cache by nzkeko Message this owner

Hidden : 7/2/2012

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

WAIOEKA GORGE - SANDY's BRIDGE
BIG SLIP MARCH 3rd & 4th 2012

View from Helicopter

In March 2012, State Highway 2 through the Waioeka Gorge was closed for 26 days following a series of large slips that occurred on Friday 2 March and Saturday 3 March 2012. Approximately 20,000 cubic metres of slip material came down on Friday followed by 80,000 cubic metres on Saturday 3 March at approximately 5pm.The Gorge road reopened on a temporary road on the 29 March 2012.

GEO-TECHNICAL FACTS
A huge part of the hill close to Sandy's Bridge became instable and buried SH2. After the major slip , there was still a large unstable block area of the rockface called the “whale back” that needed to be removed to ensure safety of workers and motorists. To remove this area, a helicopter carrying monsoon buckets has been dumping water from the nearby river onto the rock face area and later in time some explosive were used as well.

With the rockface stabilised, and spotters onsite monitoring the possible moves, a temporary road could be opened.
Slip material removed from the Waioeka Gorge will be placed at temporary sites in the Gorge. The NZ Transport Agency NZTA spoke with the Department of Conservation DOC and have identified some potential permanent sites for the slip material to be moved to. Later the BOP Regional Council gave resource consents. On the long term plan is the full reopeneing with two lanes. (July 2012)

TRAFFIC ISSUES
The first step in the reopening of the Waioeka Gorge road so vital for Gisborne's businesses was the single lane diversion past the base of the slip. It was opened on March 29, 2012 in daylight hours only with a 30 km/h speed restriction and operating from 8.00am to 5.30pm on a stop and go system.
With lighting set up providing drivers with visibility at night and workers on site monitoring traffic and the slip face, the temporary road was reopened 24/7 on April 5, 2012.
If you want more information, please go to NZTA's official Waioeka site

THE CACHE
The cache is an eclipse tin holding just a logbook. At that stage don't park by the cache but use the bay on the Gisborne side until the red and white cones are removed.
Use some stealth to retrieve it as there are spotters as you know. TAKE YOUR OWN PEN

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

nggenpgrq ol zrgny

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)