Travellers on the South Island’s alpine passes need to carry chains today and probably tomorrow also as wintry conditions continue. The Haast to Makarora highway was closed for part of this morning.
The NZ Transport Agency closed State Highway 73 during the night between Arthur's Pass and Otira due to heavy falls of snow, however it has since reopened with chains essential and snow easing this morning so far.
The NZ Transport Agency warns all drivers crossing the South Island’s alpine passes — Arthur's and Lewis Passes — as well as the Lindis Pass, South Canterbury, and the Haast Pass, to carry chains tonight and early tomorrow, as snow is forecast from late afternoon in some places.
KiwiRail’s safety repairs to its rail crossing at Carmen Road, Hornby, part of State Highway 1, between Main South Road and Waterloo Road, will create detours for north and southbound drivers this weekend.
The NZ Transport Agency is encouraging travellers through much of Canterbury and Queenstown Lakes to become on-the-spot reporters by crowdsourcing* travel information this winter to help keep the highways safer and everyone better informed about possible road hazards and winter conditions. The trial runs between July and the end of September.
The NZ Transport Agency warns all drivers on the West Coast and crossing the alpine passes after the school holiday break to be ready for wild, windy conditions with sleet and snow on the passes. There are small branches and wind-blown debris on many roads.
The MetService has issued a heavy rain warning for the west and north of the South Island for Saturday 23 July and a strong wind warning for Fiordland and Southland with gusts up to 140km/h.
KiwiRail’s repairs to its rail crossing at Carmen Road (part of State Highway 1), between Main South Road and Waterloo Road, Hornby, will create detours for north and southbound drivers two weekends in a row.
The NZ Transport Agency has reopened State Highway 6 between Haast and Fox Glacier to one lane after a slip at Black Creek – between Fox Glacier and Karangaroa, after 8 am, closed the road temporarily.
The NZ Transport Agency closed State Highway 6 between Haast and Fox Glacier after 8 am today due to a slip at Black Creek – between Fox Glacier and Karangaroa.
Driving on parts of our highways during the winter months can be treacherous, says NZ Transport Agency Canterbury/ West Coast Journey Manager Lee Wright. “The last few days with strong winds, ice and snow on the passes have been a good reminder of this.”
The NZ Transport Agency is currently negotiating a new maintenance contract for the Central Otago highway network with a partnership led by Fulton Hogan Ltd.