'Massive slip' on SH6 near Whataroa closes northern road to Franz Josef and Fox glaciers
Friday, 22 February 2019
Heavy rain has caused a 'massive slip' on a West Coast highway, closing the main road, which gives access to Franz Josef and Fox glaciers from the north.
A section of State Highway 6 (SH6) north of Whataroa between Whataroa River and Parkers Creek was closed just after 6am on Friday.
This means the only way in to tourist hotspots Franz Josef and Fox glaciers will be from the south, through the Haast pass.
Christchurch Transport Operations Centre spokeswoman Janine Porter said crews were working to clear the road but it was not expected to reopen until Monday.
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'Daylight has revealed a massive slip, contractors are on site with more equipment and crews on the way.'
It was estimated that crews needed to move about 50,000 m3 of gravel and trees to open the road to single lane, plus further work to clear and tidy up to get the road fully open.
The next update would be midday on Monday, Porter said.
There were no detours available for motorists travelling in the area.
NZTA maintenance contract manager Moria Whinham said the slip was estimated to be about 400 metres long, with debris about four metres deep.
'Given the depth of material with large trees, soil, rocks and streams cutting across the highway, it is unlikely to be reopened until early next week.'
She said electronic signs warning motorists of the slip had been set up on SH6 just south of Hokitika and also at Makarora and Lake Hawea at the Otago end.
'Crew and equipment have been on the site since the early hours of this morning and more equipment and people are heading to South Westland to clear the slip,' she said.
UPDATE 7:55AM
Daylight has revealed a massive slip, additional crews have been called. The slip is north of Whataroa, between Whataroa River & Parkers Creek.
The road is not expected to be reopened until Mon 25 Feb. ^JP
— NZTA Canterbury/WC (@NZTACWC) February 21, 2019
Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokeswoman Lyn Crossan said crews in the Whataroa area were kept busy with weather related jobs on Thursday night.
She said crews from Hokitika and Harihari were called to two cars caught in flood water near Whataroa about 11.15pm on Thursday.
The two cars, which were carrying tourists, were stuck in 'raging water' along SH6, she said.
The crews rescued the passengers and they were taken back to Whataroa.
A Westpower spokesman said power was lost to most of South Westland after the slip brought down power poles about 11pm on Thursday.
'With road access blocked, fault staff have flown in by helicopter this morning to assess the damage and begin restoration of supply.'
Power was restored to most of Whataroa except Te Taho about 9.30am on Friday.
Te Taho would remained without power and was unlikely to be restored until late of Friday, the spokesman said.
'Access to the poles and conductors that have been damaged is very limited, due to the slip. We thank you for your patience and apologise for the inconvenience.'
A severe weather watch was issued for the Westland area just after 8pm on Thursday.
'This watch is for the possibility that rainfall accumulations may approach warning criteria in southern Westland and northern Fiordland,' a MetService spokesman said.
Meteorologist Rob Kerr said significant rainfall had fallen in the Westland area overnight.
He said about 60 millimetres of rain had fallen in nearby Franz Josef between 8pm on Thursday and 4am Friday. About 21.5mm of that falling between 2am and 4am, he said.
'There's been quite a lot of thunder and lightening as well.'
A slow-moving front had been affecting southern Westland and northern Fiordland since Thursday night.
Another weak cold front was also expected to move northeast across the area on Friday morning.