Monthly Archives: February 2022

Top of the South flooding update 10am Sunday: SH6 Hira to Rai Valley remains closed

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View the latest updates

The alternative route to Nelson is via the Wairau Valley, SH63, St Arnaud and Kawatiri Junction.

Care needed on damaged roads

Waka Kotahi Journey Manager Tresca Forrester asks everyone to take care driving given the recent flooding and slip clearances. “People should expect to see single lanes and traffic management on SH6 and other parts of the network. We appreciate everyone’s patience and care around our crews.”

Remediation work proper will start after the long Waitangi Weekend. 

SH6 Hira to Rai Valley, through the Whangamoas – closed

With rain easing, Waka Kotahi crews are back in clean-up mode today on 15 sites covered in slash and slips on this section of highway at the Top of the South. Only minor additional damage has occurred overnight and the road should be open by 5 pm today.

View the latest updates

Marlborough Sounds roads still catching rain, some closed

The Marlborough District Council is updating the status of these local roads.

Several have been closed due to the deluges and flooding. Check their Facebook page for updates around Okiwi and Duncan Bays, for example.

Marlborough District Council Facebook page

Marlborough Emergency Management map page showing closures/ access details to Sounds bays

All highway updates, including the North Island

Waka Kotahi Journey Planner – traffic information

 

Fatal Crash, Alfriston

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District:

Counties Manukau

Police can confirm that one person has died following a serious crash on Mill Road, Alfriston last night.

Emergency services were notified of the two vehicle crash at around 10:50pm.

One person died at the scene.

Two others received serious injuries and a further two people suffered minor injuries in the crash.

Additionally, heavy rainfall is forecast around the country over the next week. Police would like to take this opportunity to remind motorists to slow down and drive to the conditions. 

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Crash, State Highway 1, Foxton

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District:

Central

Police are in attendance at a crash on Johnston St, State Highway 1 in Foxton.

A vehicle has crashed into a powerpole and lines are down on the road.

There are no reported injuries.

Diversions are in place as crews work to restore the powerlines.

ENDS

Issued by the Police Media Centre

West Coast flooding update 10.15 am Saturday – Fox to Haast has now reopened, MetService warnings largely lifted South Island

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The Lower Buller Gorge, SH6, into Westport from Inangahua closed last night due to flooding but has now reopened.

SH6 linking Nelson and Marlborough via the Rai Valley is likely to remain closed all day and overnight.

MetService warnings for Te Waipounamu/the South Island have now been lifted with an Orange warning remaining over the Marlborough Sounds.

MetService Orange warning for Upper South region

SH6 Hira to Rai Valley, through the Whangamoas – closed

This part of SH6 linking Nelson and Marlborough remains closed and may not open today or overnight. The next update is 9 am Sunday.

Overnight rain caused substantial damage, say Waka Kotahi’s roading contractors.  A significant clean-up is needed once flood waters abate.

Drivers can take the Wairau Valley and St Arnaud/ Kawatiri Junction route, SH63.

Journey Planner road closures for this area 

Westport to Mokihinui to the north, SH67 – should reopen today

This closure was extended further south to Fairdown on Friday night. Once flood waters abate, the highway will reopen, even if single lane. 

Stop Press: Lower Buller Gorge closed due to a fresh slip.

Next update midday Saturday.

Journey Planner road closures for this area

Highway updates

Waka Kotahi thanks all drivers and residents for taking care over Waitangi Weekend especially in places where there has been flooding and where the highway is down to a single lane ahead of remediation to come.

Plan ahead for a safe, enjoyable journey. Keep up to date with:

Fatality confirmed following Picton crash

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District:

Tasman

Police can confirm a person has died following a crash on a section of State Highway 1, Picton on Friday.

The single vehicle crash was reported to Police at around 10:15am, between Wairau Road and Lindens Road.

The vehicle’s sole occupant was taken to Wairau Hospital, where they have since died.

Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

2022 Genesis G90

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West Coast and Top of the South storm update 5.45 pm

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North of Westport

SH67 at Mokihinui north of Westport closed again late this afternoon after it reopened earlier.

The next update for SH67 is 10 am tomorrow (Saturday) as it will be for some other routes closed overnight tonight, says Colin Hey, Senior Network Manager for Waka Kotahi. 

Greymouth and south to Haast, SH6 and SH7

The entrance to Greymouth at Dobson, SH7, had surface flooding this afternoon, requiring a detour to Taylorville on the other side of the Grey River.

Greymouth south to Franz Josef, is largely clear bar some surface flooding.

Good progress on the Fox Hills between the two glacier towns meant the highway would reopen there at 6 pm tonight, reconnecting Fox township to the northern West Coast.

However a slip at Karangarua and other slips still being removed means the rest of SH6 south of Fox Glacier township will remain closed with a review at 10 am tomorrow (Saturday).

Contractors hard at work for Waka Kotahi’s Fulton Hogan team on SH6 clearing up a slip near Lake Moeraki, South Westland, earlier today. (Photo courtesy Gerry McSweeney, Lake Moeraki Wilderness Lodge).

The long weekend on the West Coast

“Road crews have been working hard this week so we will scale back this weekend to give them a rest. Essential clearance work and patrolling will continue combined with traffic management in areas which may be down to a single lane. Major road reinstatement will not start till after the long weekend,” says Mr Hey.

Tasman/ Nelson/ Marlborough

Rain picked up over the Top of the South this afternoon so SH6 through the Whangamoas, between Hira and Rai Valley, will remain closed overnight. This will be reviewed at 10 am Saturday. Overall good progress was made clearing slips and culverts.

The Wairau Valley and St Arnaud, via SH63, is the alternate route between Blenheim and Nelson, says Andrew James, System Manager, Top of the South for Waka Kotahi.

Other parts of Tasman like the Tākaka Hill route, SH60, are open.

People are encouraged to avoid the Marlborough Sounds local roads if possible over the long weekend, says Mr James. “These roads are still in a fragile state from the last storm and there is potential for further disruption.”

Kenepuru Road remains closed from that earlier storm.

Thanks for taking care

Waka Kotahi thanks all road users for being cautious and checking routes before heading off – building in extra time and being aware small slips can occur anywhere after this much rain.

Plan ahead for a safe, enjoyable journey. Keep up to date with:

Highway line marking on Tākaka Hill, SH60 – night closures with traffic through every two hours

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The work will take place between 9pm and 5am each night, says Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency.

SH60 will be line marked over two to three nights. Traffic will be let through in each direction (one direction at a time) at 11 pm, 1 am, 3 am then open at 5 am.

If all goes well, the work will be completed in two nights. Friday is a back-up night in case of wet weather.

Area warning updates

Waka Kotahi thanks all Tākaka Hill drivers for their patience while this work is safely completed when traffic volumes are at their lowest.

Plan ahead for a safe, enjoyable journey. Keep up to date with:

Plan for delays weekend of 19 and 20 February south of Nelson, Richmond Deviation

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Highway sealing and widening work is needed on one kilometre of the Richmond Deviation ahead of the installation of median flexible safety barriers, to help prevent head-on crashes.

This work was originally scheduled for late last year but was postponed due to other events in the lead-up to Christmas.

  • Work will be underway both Saturday and Sunday, 6 am to 6 pm, on the Richmond Deviation.
  • Detours will be in place each day from 6 am until 1 pm.
  • Even after the sealing work, speeds will remain at 30 km/hour to ensure the new chip beds in place properly until Wednesday night, 16 February.

The highway will be reduced to a single lane with southbound traffic (towards Richmond) detoured Saturday morning to 1 pm and northbound traffic (towards Nelson) detoured on Sunday at the same time.  The detour route is via McGlashen Ave, Talbot St and Salisbury Road.

Crews will re-seal one side of the highway each day, making the most of the summer weather needed for a successful seal. A wide flush centreline is also being installed, increasing the distance between opposing lanes of traffic.

The weekend time has been chosen as traffic volumes are lower than weekdays, disrupting fewer people.

People should be prepared for significant delays all weekend and through until Wednesday night. If possible, arrange essential travel outside the peak hours, says Waka Kotahi Journey Manager Tresca Forrester.

Waka Kotahi thanks all cyclists, drivers and people living on the detour route for their patience while this work is underway.

  • Even outside the lane closure times, highway lane widths will be restricted and speeds reduced through the work site.
  • For two days or so after the work is completed, speeds will continue to be lowered to help bed in the seal and avoid flying wet chip.
  • The separated cycle path, part of the Great Taste Trail, will not be affected.
  • If it is wet 19 and 20 February, this work will move to the following weekend 26 and 27 February.

Southbound Saturday detour below (northbound Sunday reverse arrows):

The big picture – safety

For more information on the benefits of safety barriers, visit Flexible road safety barriers.  

Plan ahead for a safe, enjoyable journey. Keep up to date with:

Full night closures Weld Pass, SH1, Blenheim over five nights from 13 February

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The Weld Pass, between Blenheim and Seddon, will be fully closed for asphalt resurfacing.  Emergency vehicles will be allowed through.

“After extensive consultation with the freight industry, the time has been altered to 10 pm to 6 am, cutting an hour off the earlier posted time,” says Peter Brown, Regional Manager Maintenance and Operations, Central and Lower South Island for Waka Kotahi.  “This change will help reduce the impact on freight trucks linking with early-morning ferries on this key supply chain route.”

Lewis Pass is the detour

The detour route will be via SH7, the Lewis Pass. It will add up to two hours to the truck journey compared to SH1, Picton to Christchurch.

The work will run from Sunday 13 February through to Thursday night, 17 February, 10pm to 6am the next day. Weld Pass is a winding section of SH1 (see aerial view below).

SH1 will fully open each morning at 6am.  The work is weather dependent so rain could move these dates forward.

Waka Kotahi thanks all drivers who will be inconvenienced by this work and encourages everyone to plan for the opening times if they can.

Electronic mobile signs will advertise the closures at each end ie near Blenheim at the Roadhouse entry and in Seddon as well as fixed signs in other places.

The Weld Pass, SH1 between Blenheim and Seddon: 

An aerial view of SH1 Weld Pass:  

Plan ahead for a safe, enjoyable journey. Keep up to date with: