4:45pm - Reopening at site of the first of crash closures

State Highway 7/Mouse Point Road near the turnoff to Hanmer Springs in North Canterbury is open again after a crash closure earlier this afternoon. People are asked to travel with care on this route north of Culverden.

State Highway 1/Rakaia Highway remains closed after a serious crash at Chertsey, in Mid Canterbury, with a detour available as described below.

4:25pm – Twin crash closures affecting Canterbury traffic

State highway closures north and south of Christchurch because of crashes today are affecting traffic around the region.

State Highway 7/Mouse Point Road is closed north of Leslie Hills Road, near the turnoff to Hanmer Springs in North Canterbury. Police say minor injuries have been reported from the crash, involving several vehicles and a caravan.

In the absence of suitable detours, people are asked to avoid the area between Culverden and the Hanmer Springs turnoff.

Meanwhile, State Highway 1/Rakaia Highway is closed at Chertsey, in Mid Canterbury, after a two-vehicle crash this afternoon in which police say one person has been critically injured, and a second person has minor injuries.

A detour is in place for this SH1 crash closure in Mid Canterbury: Northbound road users should turn left onto Somerton Road, right onto Thompsons Track, onto Railway Terrace East, right onto Elizabeth Avenue, then left back onto SH1. The reverse applies for southbound road users. This detour is not suitable for heavy vehicles.

People can check the latest status of the highways at the Journey Planner site.

Journey Planner