Canterbury Storm Update 4 Pm - Akaroa Highway Closed Overnight, Waikirikiri/Selwyn River Plateauing
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) says the Akaroa highway, SH75, will remain closed overnight and at least until Lake Forsyth/Te Roto o Wairewa can be safely opened to the sea. Checkpoints are in place overnight.
SH75, the Akaroa highway, next to Lake Forsyth around 2 pm this afternoon:
The Waikirikiri/ Selwyn River bridge on SH1, south of Christchurch, has plateaued, making it less likely to close overnight.
'With darkness approaching, drivers are encouraged to take extreme care and slow down on all Canterbury highways given crews will continue to repair large potholes all over the network as a result of the heavy rain,' says Mark Pinner, System Manager for NZTA in the Central South Island.
'Going into the weekend crews will be on the lookout for ice in shaded places around Mid and South Canterbury so people need to take extra care for a few days yet.'
Potholes continue to make for a slower journey on much of the network north and south of Christchurch and around Banks Peninsula. Crews are making good progress but people need to slow down and anticipate much slower trips this evening. Expect to see temporary speed limits around sites of deep potholes.
Christchurch City flooding updates: https://www.newsline.ccc.govt.nz/
Selwyn District updates: https://www.facebook.com/SelwynDistrictCouncil/
Environment Canterbury river flow data: https://www.ecan.govt.nz/data/riverflow/
SH1 Kaikōura
Crews are on standby for the high tide around 8 pm tonight at places like Ōhau Point but so far the network is holding up well.
SH75 Akaroa highway
Closed Birdlings Flat to Little River alongside Lake Forsyth/Te Roto o Wairewa. Updates: https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/highway-conditions/canterbury/closures/507845
SH1 South of Christchurch
Waikirikiri/Selwyn River has levelled off, making an overnight closure unlikely.
Selwyn River flow graph at SH1: https://www.ecan.govt.nz/data/riverflow//sitedetails/68009
Lake Tekapo, Burkes Pass, SH80 Aoraki/ Mt Cook highway
All highways around South Canterbury remain open with snow on the ground in Tekapo. Crews with snow ploughs and grit are ready if needed.
Burkes Pass, SH8, and the highway to Aoraki/ Mt Cook, SH80, are both clear currently.
https://ranginui.nz/tekapo-webcam/
The Tekapo flyover at Irishman's Creek earlier today:
Arthur's Pass, SH73, and the Lewis Pass, SH7
Snow is forecast to affect the road near the Arthur's Pass summit later, where 1 to 2 cm of snow may settle. Smaller amounts are likely lower down but unlikely to settle. SH7 could also catch small amounts of snow but both routes are open currently with no restrictions.
What should drivers do?
Please slow down, avoid sudden breaking and turning, increase following distances and drive with lights on, is NZTA's advice.
Wherever possible, people should plan to avoid driving in the worst conditions and keep an eye on weather forecasts and the NZTA Journey Planner to stay up to date with the latest highway restrictions.
https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/highway-conditions
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
16 hours ago
- RNZ News
Farmers risk being cut off as bridge funding dries up
The Wharekiri Stream can be impassable in a flood. Photo: Supplied / Shirley Millard Clarence Valley farmers have been left high and dry following a decision not to extend a funding deadline for replacing a quake-damaged bridge north of Kaikōura. Waka Kotahi - the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) - has informed the Kaikōura District Council it will not extend the 30 June sunset clause or offering additional funding for a replacement for the Glen Alton Bridge on Waiau Toa Clarence River, which was destroyed in the 7.8 magnitude earthquake in 2016. Property owners now face an uncertain future, without year-round, all weather access to the valley. Steve and Shirley Millard have been farming in the valley for 13 years, with Mrs Millard commuting to work in Kaikōura. ''It should have been done way before now,'' Steve said. ''They said they are looking at other options, but I can't see many.'' The Clarence Valley is home to several properties, including forestry blocks, large hill country properties and Department of Conservation land. For now access in and out is via Waipapa Road, Wharekiri Stream and a paper road through several properties. But the Wharekiri Stream is prone to flooding in heavy rain events and can be impassable for up to two weeks. Access is by four-wheel-drive only. Kaikōura District Council chief executive Will Doughty said NZTA's decision is a major setback and left the council with few options. ''The project has had a number of complex issues and stakeholder challenges that, despite best efforts, council has not been able to fully overcome.'' The remains of the Glen Alton bridge in the Clarence Valley, north of Kaikōura. Photo: Supplied / Kaikōura District Council The NZTA board approved emergency works funding of $12.6 million from the National Land Transport Programme in 2019 to replace bridge - a 95 percent subsidy, but the project has been beset by challenges. The council initially applied to Environment Canterbury (ECan) for a resource consent to build a $13.5m bridge, 500 metres upstream from the previous bridge. But this was opposed by Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura on cultural grounds. Last year, the council asked its contractor, Contract Structures Ltd, to provide a cost estimate for building a bridge at the original site. Going to the original site will require the council to acquire land for an access road to the new bridge, a process expected to take up to 18 month. The council will leave the local share funding of around $500,000 in the 2025/26 annual plan budget while the next steps are considered, Doughty said. NZTA regional manager central and lower South Island Peter Brown said the agency advised the council in December its application for an extension would likely be declined unless it could provide evidence by 28 February the challenges it faced could be overcome. ''Despite some progress being made on key issues, there remained significant ongoing risks and a lack of a clear path forward.'' The NZTA board met last month and declined an extension and a funding increase to $16.5m. ''We understand there will be disappointment over this decision for Clarence Valley residents,'' Brown said. ''The prolonged delays and unresolved issues make continued investment in this project untenable.'' Brown said NZTA will continue to work with the council to explore what options are available. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Otago Daily Times
16 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Winter blasts into South Island
Winter has truly arrived in the South Island, as many state highway routes are closed and warnings remain in place for snow. MetService meterologist Sylvia Martino said Dunedin Airport and Tekapō took out the chilliest spots, at -5°C, overnight, while Christchurch dropped to -1°C. Check state highways here In Otago, snow has closed State Highway 87 between Mosgiel and Kyeburn. The NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi decided to close the road at 5.20pm on Friday, cutting off Middlemarch. It was joined by SH85 (the Pigroot) between Palmerston and Alexandra at 8.15pm. SH85 Alexandra to Kyeburn and Kyeburn to Palmerston are closed and road users should avoid the area if possible, NZTA advised. People are being advised to stay home in Central Otago's Maniototo and upper Manuherekia areas, unless travel is essential, due to heavy snow. In Canterbury, SH80 between Lake Pukaki and Aoraki/Mount Cook, SH79 Fairlie to Gudex Rd, SH8 between Fairlie and Twizel, SH73 Otira to Springfield (Arthur's Pass and Porters Pass) and SH7 Hanmer Springs to Springs Junction (Lewis Pass) are closed. A heavy snow watch remained for inland areas of Canterbury and Marlborough between the Rakaia River and Ward until later this morning. The Milford Road (SH94) in Southland is open with fine and frosty conditions. There's ice and grit especially around bridges and road users are advised to drive with care. MetService meteorologist Samkelo Magwala said the worst of the snow would continue until later on Saturday, as would the risks associated with this weather. "The main driver of the snow is a low east of the South Island and it's propagating the cold suddenly into the region. "As a result, we have this destructive snow which is wet but will remain for quite some time. This is a very good indication that the winter is truly with us." Crown Range Rd closed The Crown Range Road, linking Queenstown and Wānaka, remains closed this morning due to heavy snow. A police spokesman said on Friday they had received calls about "a small handful" of vehicles stranded on the road. A spokesman for the Queenstown Lakes District Council said conditions yesterday and cold overnight temperatures have led to an extremely slippery road surface and crews were applying grit. Meanwhile, road temperatures around the Queenstown Lakes district were sitting around 3°C or below this morning and could potentially lead to ice with the roads being wet. "Grit has been applied on the Devil Staircase and Arrow Junction (SH6), as well as the usual shaded areas and bridge decks." Central Otago In Central Otago, thick snow of up to 30cm has been recorded in Maniototo, meaning essential travel only for road users as well as in Upper Manuherekia where Oturehua, Becks, St Bathans, Wedderburn are affected, a spokeswoman for the Central Otago District Council advised this morning. There are normal winter driving conditions for Omakau, Poolburn, Roxburgh, Cromwell and Alexandra. However, some roads are wet from rain overnight and patches of snow on the high-country roads. "We are expecting temperatures to drop around daybreak causing ice issues, ice likely particularly on bridge decks and shaded spots, reduce your speeds and drive to the conditions. "If your travel isn't essential in Maniototo and upper Manuherekia areas, the advice is to stay at home." Danseys Pass Road is closed (from the gates past the Danseys Pass Hotel) due to snow. "There are a lot of roads affected by this weather system, before you start your journey, please check." Southland The Milford Road (SH94) in Southland is open, with fine and frosty conditions. There's ice and grit especially around bridges and road users were advised to drive with care. NZTA also warned of snow on SH6 between Kingston and Lumsden. Ferries cancelled Cook Strait ferries were being cancelled this weekend because of forecast 6m swells. Interislander had cancelled all passenger sailings for today. Bluebridge had also cancelled all today's sailings and one early tomorrow. Freezing start to Friday It was a freezing start to the day in much of the South on Friday. At 7am, the MetService website showed Mosgiel as officially the coldest centre in the country, on -5°C. Alexandra was -2.5°C, and Queenstown was -1°C. Dunedin was 3°C, only 1°C lower than the warmest places in the South Island - Nelson and Westport which were 4°C. At 10.45am, Mosgiel was still shivering on -1.5°C. Non-official weather station data on the MetService site showed -7°C at Tekapo at dawn, and both the Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes District Councils said temperatures of -6°C had been recorded. The freezing conditions prompted police in the South to issue a warning of black ice on southern roads and to urge motorists to take "extreme care". They said they had already attended one black-ice related crash yesterday morning and were aware of another. "Thankfully, no-one has been injured but we want to ensure everyone gets to their destination safely." - ODT Online, APL and RNZ
Otago Daily Times
21 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Warnings as winter blasts into the South
Winter truly arrived in the South yesterday, after state highway routes were closed and a "handful" of vehicles were stranded on the Crown Range Rd, while warnings are in place for possible heavy falls of snow. NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi decided to close State Highway 87 at 5.20pm, cutting off Middlemarch. It was joined by SH85 (the Pigroot) between Palmerston and Alexandra at 8.15pm. Snow was also falling in Central Otago on Thursday night and particular caution has been advised now for the Maniototo and Manuherikia Valley. The Crown Range Rd was open at 8pm yesterday but webcams showed heavy snow had fallen at the summit over the previous hour. A police spokesman said they had received calls about "a small handful" of vehicles stranded on the Crown Range Rd by the snow. The spokesman believed Queenstown Lakes District Council contractors were working to clear the road so the motorists could proceed with their journeys. Later, the QLDC said on social media that chains must be fitted on all vehicles travelling on the Crown Range Rd. NZTA also warned of snow on SH6 between Kingston and Lumsden, SH94 between Lumsden and Milford Sound, SH85 between Kyeburn and Alexandra and SH8 between Alexandra and Raes Junction. It came after a freezing start to the day in much of the South yesterday. At 7am, the MetService website showed Mosgiel as officially the coldest centre in the country, on -5°C. Alexandra was -2.5°C, and Queenstown was -1°C. Dunedin was 3°C, only 1°C lower than the warmest places in the South Island — Nelson and Westport which were 4°C. At 10.45am, Mosgiel was still shivering on -1.5°C. Non-official weather station data on the MetService site showed -7°C at Tekapo at dawn, and both the Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes District Councils said temperatures of -6°C had been recorded. The freezing conditions prompted police in the South to issue a warning of black ice on southern roads and to urge motorists to take "extreme care". They said they had already attended one black-ice related crash yesterday morning and were aware of another. "Thankfully, no-one has been injured but we want to ensure everyone gets to their destination safely." MetService meteorologist Samkelo Magwala said the worst of the snow would continue until later today, as would the risks associated with this weather. "The main driver of the snow is a low east of the South Island and it's propagating the cold suddenly into the region. "As a result, we have this destructive snow which is wet but will remain for quite some time. "This is a very good indication that the winter is truly with us." Meanwhile, Cook Strait ferries were being cancelled this weekend because of forecast 6m swells. Interislander had cancelled all passenger sailings for today. Bluebridge had also cancelled all today's sailings and one early tomorrow. —APL/RNZ
