Thursday 10 July 2pm: Further overnight closure for SH7

A further overnight closure will be in place tonight for State Highway 7 between Hanmer Springs and Springs Junction (including Lewis Pass).

The closure from 7pm tonight, and expected reopening at 8am tomorrow, is a continuation of overnight closures over recent days while clearance work has been happening at a slip site just south of Roirdan Creek Bridge.

Work at the site includes rock scaling, removal of vegetation and adjustment of the bunding at the site, with ongoing monitoring for risk of any further debris falling onto the highway.

It is hoped tonight’s overnight closure could be the last for the time being, but it will depend on progress and monitoring at the site.

Stay up to date at our Journey Planner site.

Tuesday 8 July 1.25pm: Another overnight closure for SH7

Clearance work and monitoring underway at a slip site means another overnight closure for State Highway 7 between Hanmer Springs and Springs Junction (including Lewis Pass).

The section of highway will close at 7pm tonight and is due to reopen tomorrow at 8am. This is the latest of several overnight closures since Friday.

The work happening just south of Roirdan Creek Bridge this week is to clear the remaining slip hazard – including rock scaling, removal of vegetation and adjustment of the bunding at the site. This means potential delays for motorists travelling through the site during the day.

Further overnight closures may be required through the week depending on daily assessments as the clearance work is carried out.

Monday 7 July 3:15pm: Overnight closure again for SH7; more possible

A section of State Highway 7 between Hanmer Springs and Springs Junction (including Lewis Pass) will close again tonight out of precaution about the risk of further debris coming down at a known slip site.

Work is ongoing at the slip site just south of Roirdan Creek Bridge this week to clear the remaining slip hazard – including rock scaling, removal of vegetation and adjustment of the bunding at the site. This means potential delays for motorists travelling through the site during the day.

Following precautionary overnight closures through the weekend, the section of SH7 will close again tonight from 7pm and is due to reopen tomorrow at 8am.

Further closures may be required through the week depending on daily assessments as the clearance work is carried out.

Saturday 5 July 4pm: More overnight closures for SH7

State Highway 7 between Hanmer Springs and Springs Junction (including Lewis Pass) will close again tonight out of precaution about the risk of further debris coming down at a known slip site.

The section of highway will close from 7pm tonight and is due to reopen tomorrow at 8am, assuming there are no additional issues at the slip site just south of Roirdan Creek Bridge. The same hours of closure are due to apply from 7pm Sunday.

Motorists are advised to delay travel or to take alternative routes.

Rockfall at the slip site previously caused an overnight closure from Friday until this morning.

SH7 at the slip site has been reduced to one lane of traffic since an earlier slip last month, and next week work is due to take place to remove the risk of further debris that could fall onto the road. This work from Monday may cause delays of up to 20 minutes for road users where temporary road closures are required.

Friday 4 July - 7pm: Overnight closure for SH7

Due to a falling rock this afternoon, State Highway 7 between Hanmer Springs and Springs Junction will be closed overnight.

The rockfall happened at the slip site referred to below near Lewis Pass, just south of Roirdan Creek Bridge.

The highway is due to reopen tomorrow at 7am, to the single lane that had been operating, if assessed as safe.

Friday 4 July 2pm: Delays possible as work underway to fully reopen slip site on SH7

Work will be underway next week to address the risk of further debris falling onto State Highway 7 at a site reduced to one lane of traffic after a slip.

The slip occurred last month just south of the Roirdan Creek Bridge, near Lewis Pass. It resulted in a temporary closure of SH7 between Springs Junction and Island Hills, but since then the road has been open to one lane only with traffic management.

Geotechnical investigations have been carried out on the risk of further slips at the site, and next week crews are due to move in to begin clearing the remaining slip hazard – including rock scaling, removal of vegetation and adjustment of the bunding at the site. 

Traffic will continue through one lane at the site with stop/go lights in place. Motorists travelling through the site should be prepared for delays of up to 20 minutes where temporary road closures are required as the crews drop material.

Once this work is done, an overnight closure may be required initially to ensure rockfall has stopped and/or been caught by the bund. The site will reopen to two lanes of traffic when it is possible to do so safely.