The state highway between Brown Road and Lavenham Road is currently closed and emergency services are on the scene.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi is advising all road users to avoid travel if possible and to expect delays while a possible detour is set up.
Please also follow the directions of emergency services on site.
NZTA thanks all motorists for their patience following the crash.
Please check the NZTA interactive Journey Planner for updates and detour details.
District:
Police are responding to a two-vehicle crash in Willowby, near Ashburton.
The crash was reported around 5:40pm on Longbeach Road, near Winslow Willoughby Road.
One person is in a critical condition, and a helicopter has been called for.
The Serious Crash Unit has been advised.
The road is blocked and motorists are advised to expect delays.
ENDS
District:
Police are responding to a two vehicle crash on Longbeach Road near Winslow Willowby Road, Willowby, Ashburton.
The crash was reported around 5:40pm.
One person is in a critical condition, and a helicopter is enroute.
The Serious Crash Unit has been advised.
The road is blocked and motorists are advised to expect delays.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
District:
Police are responding to a serious two vehicle crash on the intersection of Matawai Road and Back Ormond Road.
Police responded around 4:55pm.
One person is in a serious condition and one person is in a moderate to serious condition.
The Serious Crash Unit has been advised.
The road is closed and diversions are in place, motorists are advised to expect delays.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
District:
Police are responding to a serious crash involving a vehicle on Tomoana Road, Hastings, reported around 12:20pm.
One person has been transported to hospital in a serious condition.
The Serious Crash Unit has been advised.
The road is closed at the intersections of Tomoana Road/Williams Street and Tomoana Road/Nelson Street, diversions are in place.
Motorists are advised to follow the diversions.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
In this instance, speeds are reduced and some lanes on the bridge may close
There is also a low risk of brief gusts of up to 90 -110 km/hr.
NZTA is working closely with Metservice to monitor wind speeds with maintenance crews out on the network ready to react if wind gusts exceed threshold levels.
The bridge will remain in a 4 x 4 formation from 10am today until the afternoon peak.
Motorists are urged to drive with caution and look out for the electronic message boards which will indicate lane closures and reduced speeds, and stay within their lane while travelling across the bridge.
Drivers of high sided vehicles and motorcyclists are advised to avoid the Auckland Harbour Bridge and use the western ring route on State Highways 16 and 18.
NZTA thanks road users for their patience and understanding.
The summer maintenance programme will focus on recoating parts of the bridge overarches and require lane restrictions to keep our teams safe while they carry out this important maintenance.
The full schedule can be found here which will include lane restrictions between 10pm and 5am.
As this work is weather dependent, we recommend checking the journey planner for the latest updates.
People can also sign up here for email notifications about work on the Auckland Harbour Bridge.
NZTA thanks everyone for their patience while this important work is completed.
The highway was closed overnight at the request of Westland Civil Defence due to the heavy rain and strong winds affecting the area yesterday and overnight.
Some traffic management measures remain in place on the road, and motorists are urged to drive to the conditions.
Please check the NZTA on-line Journey Planner at www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz for the latest up to date road conditions, including any delays or road closures.
The latest information on weather warnings and watches can be found at https://www.metservice.com/warnings/home.
The highway has been closed at the request of Westland Civil Defence due to the current State of Emergency, with heavy rain and strong winds affecting the area.
The road will remain closed overnight, with a further update to be provided at 9am on Saturday 20 January. Overnight conditions are expected to worsen, and in the darkness fallen trees, slips, and even floodwater may not be readily visible, posing a danger to drivers.
Severe weather conditions are affecting much of the region, and drivers are urged to limit all travel in the area to essential journeys only.
Please check the NZTA on-line Journey Planner at www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz for the latest up to date road conditions, including any delays or road closures.
The latest information on weather warnings and watches can be found at https://www.metservice.com/warnings/home.
District:
Emergency services are responding to a serious crash in Ōtara this evening.
The single vehicle crash, on Antrim Crescent, was reported to Police around 4.40pm.
Initial indications suggest one person has received critical injuries.
A section of Antrim Road is blocked while emergency services work at the scene and motorists are asked to avoid the area where possible.
The Serious Crash Unit is in attendance.
ENDS.
Anna Thompson/NZ Police