The South Island remains an island of two road halves tonight, with both main highways on either side of the island split in two by river-borne floodwaters on the east side and significant slips and damage from torrential rain on the west.
Several key highways linking regions of the South Island will remain closed today due to ongoing flooding, slips, and damage to the highways, says Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency System Manager Pete Connors.
Several key highways linking regions of the South Island are today closed due to flooding, slips, and rivers rising, says Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency System Manager Pete Connors.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency crews are dealing with a fresh slip largely comprising rockfall on SH6 between Haast and Haast Pass today. The highway links the West Coast to Otago.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is keeping part of SH63 through the Wairau Valley and over The Wash bridge closed again overnight tonight (Thursday night) and also tomorrow, Friday, as floodwaters still cover parts of the highway.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is keeping part of SH63 through the Wairau Valley and over The Wash bridge closed today as floodwaters still cover large parts of the highway and parts have been damaged by flooding.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency road crews will be sealing a number of sites on State Highway 1 north of Dunedin, and in North Otago at Herbert and Pukeuri on Thursday and Friday this week - 5, 6 December.
As the forecast heavy rain fell over the western and northern parts of the South Island overnight and today, a number of highways have closed with slips and fallen trees blocking access.
The MetService has issued a heavy rain warning for western parts of the South Island, Westland and Nelson for this afternoon through to Tuesday evening.
A contract to complete the last five big repair sites on State Highway 60, Takaka Hill, significantly damaged by Cyclone Gita in 2018, has been awarded to construction company Downer by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency.
