24 October, 11.30am – Roads reopened in Southland & Otago

Road closures in Southland and Otago from yesterday’s severe weather event are now rapidly diminishing. 

State Highway 6/Dee Street in Invercargill between Gala Street and Fox Street has now reopened after a closure yesterday due to the risk from roofing materials being blown onto the road. State Highway 1/Bluff Highway remains under stop/go traffic management and a 50km/h temporary traffic speed restriction between the Omaui Road intersection and Bluff township.

State Highway 6 from Lake Hawea to Maungawera, in Central Otago, is also now open after a closure yesterday due to the impacts of the weather.

Road users are asked to continue to drive with care while road hazards such as fallen trees may remain.

State Highway 94/Te Anau Milford Highway is closed from Park Boundary to Donne River (Westgate) because of multiple tree falls, slips and flooding. It is expected to remain closed at least until Monday. 

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24 October, 10am – SH73 to reopen and return road access to West Coast

State Highway 73 between Springfield and Otira is due to reopen about 10.30am this morning. People can still expect delays as traffic moves through and are asked to drive with care while hazards may still exist.  

State Highway 7 between Waipara and Springs Junction, and State Highway 7A, from the Hanmer Springs turnoff, are still closed. A further update is expected on these later today.

State Highway 6 between Haast and Makarora (Haast Pass) is also still closed, but efforts are underway to reopen this area later today. SH6 between Murchison and Kohatu also remains closed. 

We ask people to continue to take care on highways across the South Island while hazards such as fallen trees may remain.   

Stay up to date at our Journey Planner site and NZTA social media channels.

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23 October, 9.40pm – Further roads reopened in Otago & Southland

State Highway 8 between Lawrence and Waitahuna, and State Highway 96 between Mataura and Hedgehope, have both reopened tonight after closures during today’s severe winds. 

SH8 was affected by fallen trees, while trees and power lines were brought down on SH96. Both roads have since been cleared.

Roading teams have also been alerted tonight to a separate incident of a fallen tree blocking SH8 at Waitahuna, near the intersection with Sunderland Street. Road users should take care through this area.

Further roading updates are due tomorrow.

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7.25pm – Some highways to remain closed overnight after wild day

After a wild day of fierce winds, fallen trees and powerlines, and flooding, roading teams are continuing the clean-up and monitoring several state highways across the central and lower South Island which will remain closed overnight.

A number of closures were put in place where the winds were putting road users at risk and creating obstructions on the highways. While the winds are now easing in places, people are still being urged to avoid unnecessary travel tonight or to take extra care given that hazards may still exist on the roads.

In Canterbury/West Coast, the stretches of state highways that are still closed, and are expected to remain closed overnight, are:  

• State Highway 73 between Springfield and Otira (Kumara to Otira reopened recently).
• State Highway 7 between Waipara and Springs Junction.
• State Highway 7A, from the Hanmer Springs turnoff.
• State Highway 6 between Haast and Makarora (Haast Pass).
• State Highway 6 between Murchison and Wai-iti.

People are asked to avoid the closed highways above. Further updates on the status of these roads are expected tomorrow.

State Highway 1 through Canterbury remains open, and State Highway 80 between Aoraki-Mount Cook and State Highway 8 has just reopened, but surface flooding and strong wind warnings will remain in place overnight on SH80.

In Otago/Southland, State Highway 1 between Gore and McNab will remain closed overnight. State Highway 6/North Road in Invercargill, between Bainfield Road and Renfrew Street, is also closed, with an update expected tomorrow.

Also still closed are State Highway 8 between Lawrence and Waitahuna, and State Highway 6 between Lake Hawea and Maungawera.  

State Highway 96 between Mataura and Hedgehope is currently still closed, but it is expected that it will reopen later tonight.

State Highway 1/Bluff Highway near Omaui Road is open under stop/go traffic management.      

We appreciate the closures today have been challenging for some, but we thank people for being patient and respectful towards our roading teams as we ensure road users are kept safe.

Further updates will follow tomorrow, and you can also stay up to date on our Journey Planner site and NZTA social media channels.

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12 pm – SH80 in Mackenzie Country closed; further route (SH6) to West Coast also closed

State Highway 80 in the Mackenzie Country is now also closed, between State Highway 8 and Aoraki-Mount Cook, due to flooding.

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10.05 am – New series of highway closures due to weather

A number of new state highway closures are now in place in the central South Island due to the severe weather conditions:

They are:

• State Highway 73 between Springfield and Otira due to weather-related incidents.
• State Highway 7 between Waipara and Tekoa Range due to fallen trees (SH7 between Tekoa Range and Springs Junction was already closed).
• State Highway 7A, from the Hanmer Springs turnoff due to strong winds and fallen trees.  
• State Highway 6 between Haast and Makarora, including Haast Pass, due to a slip.

Road users are asked to avoid travel or delay their journeys if they can.