Traffic resumed on the Haast highway, SH6 through Makarora in Otago today with two escorted convoys at midday and 4.30 pm – 80 towards Wanaka and 68 towards Haast for the midday journey.
Light vehicles and campervans will be able to travel through Makarora on the Otago side of the Haast Pass again today in two convoys at midday and 4.30 pm. From tomorrow 8 am convoys will be added in, says Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is aiming to re-open the Haast Pass link between the South Island’s West Coast and Otago/Queenstown to a single lane of traffic for light vehicles to be escorted through at set times from tomorrow (Tuesday 26 September).
The Haast Pass link between the South Island’s West Coast and Otago/ Queenstown is remaining closed this weekend due to the massive amount of slip material needing to be removed at Muddy Creek bridge and either side of it, says Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency.
People planning their school holiday departures need to check in with the MetService forecasts and Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency’s traffic and highways update to be on the safe side.
Torrential rain making its way up the South Island has closed SH6 north of Makarora in Otago with a flooded creek overtopping the highway. The route will remain closed today and overnight.
Waka Kotahi is advising people to take extreme care and consider delaying their journey through exposed inland areas of South Canterbury today and this week, especially if they are driving high-sided vehicles like campervans, towing a boat or caravan or riding motorbikes.
West Coast drivers who travel at night need to work around some night-time highway closures for fresh road marking from 11 to 24 September*, says Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency.
