Multiple roads still closed as authorities determine extent of flood damage

Sunday, 18 July 2021

Part of Queen Charlotte Drive between Havelock and Cullen Point in the Marlborough region has been washed away by flood water.

While floodwaters have begun to recede in some parts of the South Island, transport authorities say it is too early to determine how long some roads will remain closed.

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency journey manager Tresca Forrester said crews had been out since first light to assess road damage, inspect bridges and clear debris from blocked and flooded highways after heavy rain battered the upper South Island this weekend.

Access to Nelson was only restored about 5pm on Sunday with the reopening of SH6 between Blenheim and Nelson. However, motorists were advised that SH6 between Murchison and Kawatiri/SH65 Shenandoah would remain closed overnight.

“A number of remote sites on this route are still under repair, and our contractors will resume work first thing Monday morning in an effort to re-open the route as soon as possible,” said Forrester.

* Flights and ferries cancelled, towns cut off as weather causes chaos for transport network

* Canterbury floods: Travel warning as highways and bridges remain closed across region

The extent of the flooding in Wesport on the West Coast in July 2021 is revealed in this aerial video.

SH7 from the Hanmer turnoff to Springs Junction was back open by mid-afternoon on Sunday, as was SH76 from Fairdown to Mokihinui and SH1 from Picton to Spring Creek.

Access to Westport, one of the areas worst affected by the flooding, and through to Golden Bay was established earlier on Sunday, with the SH67 Buller Bridge, SH60 from Collingwood to Riwaka, and SH6 from Hira to Rai Valley all reopened.

The following highways remained closed:

SH6 Inangahua to Westport (lower Buller Gorge) – High river levels

The Wairau River bridge at Spring Creek. This photo was taken by Keelan Walker on Saturday morning.

SH6 Murchison to Inangahua (upper Buller Gorge) – Flooding
SH65 from SH6 to Spring Junction
SH63 Renwick to Tophouse Rd – Flooding

“We know how important these routes are for South Island businesses and communities, and they will be reopened as soon as we are able to safely do so,” said Forrester.

Antoinette Laird, Head of Corporate Affairs for Foodstuffs New Zealand, said the impact on supplies to Foodstuffs stores on the South Island had so far been minimal. Stores on the West Coast, including New World Westport, received their deliveries on Sunday.

“However, this is an evolving situation and it is possible some store deliveries may be impacted by road closures, depending on when they can be safely reopened,” said Laird.

In the Marlborough region, multiple smaller roads were also still closed on Sunday afternoon due to flooding, fallen trees, debris and washouts.

These included Hunters Rd, Pembers Rd, Bothams Bend, Jacksons Rd, Old Renwick Rd, Northbank Rd, Kenepuru Rd, Daltons Rd, Queen Charlotte Drive, Para Rd, Speeds Rd, Awatere Valley Rd, Medway Rd, Duncan Bay Rd, Kaiuma Bay Rd, and Moenui Rd.

Forrester said until the full scale of the damage was known, it was too early to say when the closed roads would reopen.

Roads that were not closed but were being monitored due to surface flooding or slips included SH60 Takaka Hill, SH6 Hokitika to Fox Glacier, SH6 Fox Glacier to Haast, and SH77 Mt Hutt.

Forrester urged road users to drive with care as many areas remained highly susceptible to slips, or to further flooding if more rain fell.