Opotiki's mayor is pleased to see the lifeline between Bay of Plenty and the East Coast re-opened

A single lane in the Waioeka Gorge is now open round the clock, more than three weeks after a slip blocked the road.

Opotiki mayor John Forbes says he's been made well aware of how difficult the closure has been.

He says transport companies will be pleased with the round the clock access because 70 per cent of freight coming from Gisborne uses the route.

A stop-go system is in place.