Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency will reopen the Porter’s Pass/ Arthur’s Pass route between Canterbury and the West Coast tonight at 8 pm. SH73 between Springfield and the Porter River Bridge has been closed since the weekend’s massive downpours damaged bridges and dumped scree over the highway.
The Ashburton River/ Hakatere Bridge, which is currently open to light vehicles* only, will close at 6 pm tonight for two hours for the completion of pier stress testing.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is aiming to open SH1 south of Christchurch through Dunsandel and also at Hinds, south of Ashburton, on Tuesday – possibly in the afternoon.
With rain lessening in mid and south Canterbury, flood waters on roads are expected to recede in these areas later today, says Tresca Forrester, Journey Manager Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency.
Persistent, hard rainfall over Canterbury has closed a number of state highways today. Others are being watched and may be closed if surface flooding continues and as night approaches with reduced visibility.
The most significant rainfall in 10-years is predicted to fall in the Canterbury region this weekend with Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency advising motorists to be prepared for disruptions on the road network.
Updated - 24 May 2021: Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency has awarded a $5 million contract to build a roundabout to increase safety and reduce crashes at the Elles Road/ State Highway 1 (SH1) intersection in south Invercargill, with work already underway.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency will be improving safety for pedestrians and other road users by installing pedestrian refuge islands in two Marlborough townships in coming months: Renwick, near Blenheim, and Rai Valley, closer to Nelson, both on SH6.
| Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency | Nelson City Countil
A significant milestone in transport planning will take place next week* when the Nelson Future Access (NFA) project seeks Nelson City Council support for its preferred programme to enable a final round of engagement to commence.
Highways South, on behalf of Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, will be removing harakeke (New Zealand flax) from problematic areas across the Southland state highway network over the next few months.