State Highway 35 has been closed in two areas by flooding in Gisborne.
The NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi said the highway was closed between Hicks Bay and Te Araroa, and from Tokomaru Bay to Te Puia Springs.
"Please avoid the area and consider using an alternate route," Waka Kotahi said in a statement. "An update will be provided when the road status has changed."
Multiple other roads in the Gisborne region have also been closed by flooding.
Gisborne residents have been preparing for another round of evacuations as they began to see the first signs of Cyclone Fili on Wednesday morning.
Tairāwhiti Civil Defence warned East Coasters of torrential rain and strong winds, with MetService issuing a 'red' weather warning for the Gisborne and Wairoa districts.
The rain was expected to cause even more grief after last month's storm, with concerns of more dangerous flooding, river conditions and slips.
While the rain was expected to set in overnight, Newshub reporter Shannon Redstall, who's in Gisborne, said it only began early on Wednesday morning.
Nedine Thatcher-Swann, Gisborne District Council's chief executive, told AM they were expecting conditions to get worse later on Wednesday morning into the afternoon.
"The team on the ground is prepared - as prepared as we can be - recognising we've just moved into our recovery stage so it's pretty tough.
"We are saying avoid any unnecessary travel. We're also advising that if you're close to waterways… be prepared to evacuate.
"Because of the saturation that's there from the last floods, while the rain that is predicted is going to be high, it could even be higher because of that saturation so it could cause us a lot of issues."
MetService said Cyclone Fili was tracking southeast and expected to pass close to the East Coast at about 6pm on Wednesday.
Tairāwhiti Civil Defence has warned another 100 and 200mm was set to fall on Wednesday.
"Our roading contractors are out checking on the network," the agency said in a statement.
"If you can please stay off the roads, avoid unnecessary travel - especially on our rural road network.
"There are more than likely trees down, flooding and debris in places. If you need to travel please drive to the conditions."
