The NZ Transport Agency has revised its timeframe to reconnect State Highway 6 in South Westland at the Waiho River, says Transport Agency System Manager Pete Connors.
The railway crossing on Christchurch’s Kirk Road, Templeton, near State Highway 1 will be temporarily closed, with detours in place, on the weekend of 6-8 April for safety improvements.
The NZ Transport Agency says there is no evidence to support suggestions that a lack of maintenance or earlier work upstream were responsible for the failure of South Westland’s Waiho Bridge on Tuesday this week.
A full overnight road closure on SH6 at the Victoria Bridge between Cromwell and Queenstown will be in place from 10pm next Tuesday 2 April, until 5am Wednesday 3 April.
Updated at 5pm: State Highway 73 on the Otira Gorge is now open again, with rivers and creek levels dropping rapidly across the West Coast and the sun coming out.
A number of highways on the West Coast remain closed today after torrential rain and rock-filled rivers took out the Waiho River Bridge Tuesday afternoon on State Highway 6 near Franz Josef.
South Westland’s Waiho River bailey bridge has been washed away this afternoon after several hours of torrential flood waters carrying large amounts of rock and material downstream battered its support piers.
The NZ Transport Agency is extending the length of South Westland’s State Highway 6 closure due to concerns about rising rivers and heavy rain still to come later this afternoon.
The NZ Transport Agency is keeping State Highway 6 between Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers closed today after closing it earlier this morning after two slips covered the highway, triggered by torrential rain.
The NZ Transport Agency asks all road users to be vigilant on the South Island’s West Coast highways and roads overnight and into Tuesday with forecast rain having started this afternoon.
The railway crossing on State Highway 79 at Rangitata, South Canterbury, will be temporarily closed, with detours in place, over the last weekend of this month (30 March – 1 April) for safety improvements.
Drivers who normally travel on State Highway 73, between Canterbury and the West Coast via Arthur’s Pass, will need to take the Lewis Pass (SH7 via Reefton and Waipara) this Sunday and Monday nights.
People who use the road between Cromwell and Queenstown, State Highway 6, may spot abseilers and drilling activities at the Nevis Bluff from Tuesday, 26 March.
The Beaumont community, inland Otago, has an opportunity next week to get the latest news on a new two-lane bridge over the Clutha River, State Highway 8, near the township.