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3.10pm – SH8 reopened to convoys Tekapo-Pukaki

State Highway 8 has reopened between Lake Tekapo and Lake Pukaki so that people who have been stuck can travel out of the area in convoys supported by roading contractors.

The stretch of SH8 to the east between Lake Tekapo and Fairlie remains closed because of snow and ice.

Many people in the popular tourist area have been stranded by the road closures, and those travelling out of the area are asked to put their vehicle lights on and to drive with extreme care. Further bad weather and snow may close in again from later this afternoon, requiring SH8 to close again between Lake Pukaki and Lake Tekapo.

Because of the remaining SH8 closure and another closure on State Highway 83, road users may have to consider longer alternative routes north and south.

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1pm – More highway closures for Otago

Further state highways have been closed in Otago because of the weather:

In North Otago, the following are now closed:

• State Highway 83 between Pukeuri and Kurow because of flooding.
• State Highway 1 between Industrial Place, Oamaru, and Glenavy, because of flooding.

Also closed in Otago, because of snow, are:

• State Highway 87 from Kyeburn to Middlemarch, Otago
• State Highway 85 from Omakau to Palmerston, Otago

In the Mackenzie Basin, State Highway 8 from Fairlie to Twizel remains closed because of snow and ice.

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11.40am – Further Otago snow closure

State Highway 85 between Omakau and Kyeburn in Otago is also now closed because of snow and ice.

The other highway closures are:

• State Highway 8 from Fairlie to Twizel in the Mackenzie Basin.
• State Highway 87 from Kyeburn to Middlemarch, Otago
• State Highway 85 from Kyeburn to Morrisons, Otago
• State Highway 88 from Station Road to Borlases Road, Otago

People are asked to avoid these routes or delay their travel.

State Highway 1 between Waipara in Canterbury, and Ward in Marlborough, remains closed because of flooding.

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10.40am – Snow & ice road closure additions

Some further change to state highway closures due to snow and ice. The closures are now as follows:

• State Highway 8 from Fairlie to Twizel in the Mackenzie Basin.
• State Highway 87 from Kyeburn to Middlemarch, Otago
• State Highway 85 from Kyeburn to Morrisons, Otago
• State Highway 88 from Station Road to Borlases Road, Otago

There are also multiple area warnings for other inland state highways in Otago and South Canterbury and people are asked to travel with extra care.

Further updates will be provided as the situation changes. Keep up with the latest at NZTA’s Journey Planner site.

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10.20am – More snow & ice closures

Further snow, and existing ice build-up, has resulted in further state highway closures this morning in the central and lower South Island.

Those closures are as follows:

• State Highway 8 from Fairlie to Lake Tekapo in the Mackenzie Basin.
• • State Highway 87 from Kyeburn to Middlemarch, Otago.
• • State Highway 85 from Kyeburn to Morrisons, Otago.

State Highway 1 between Waipara in Canterbury, and Ward in Marlborough, remains closed this morning after severe flooding yesterday.

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9.15am – SH1 closure remains, SH8 also now closed

State Highway 1 between Waupaca in Canterbury, and Ward in Marlborough, remains closed this morning after severe flooding yesterday.

An assessment of this route is underway this morning to determine what the outlook is for reopening of all or parts of this stretch of highway. Roadings crews are clearing rocks and debris that have slipped down onto the road in places, and in some places (see image below) there is also scouring/damage to the highway from the floodwaters.

A state of emergency was declared yesterday in the Kaikōura District due to the flooding, but a rare red heavy rain warning by MetService for Marlborough and Canterbury between Ward and Hanmer and southeast of the Awatere Valley, including the Kaikoura ranges, is due to expire later this morning.

A further update will be provided later this morning for SH1 and until then an inland detour via State Highways 7, 65, 6 and 62 remains available for those travelling between Christchurch and Picton etc. Road users should be aware of some state highway closures in Marlborough still in place also, especially on State Highway 63.

Elsewhere, State Highway 8 is closed again as of this morning from Lake Tekapo to Twizel in the Mackenzie Basin. People are asked to avoid this area or delay their journeys.

Around the South Island, especially inlands areas, people are urged to be wary of the risk of snow and ice or further rain that may disrupt their travel or make driving difficult. Snow is forecast to fall again in places tonight, with State Highway 73 at Porters Pass in inland Canterbury forecast to get up to 8cm from tonight.

A further update will be provided later this morning. Keep up with the latest at NZTA’s Journey Planner site.