Snow in the Catlins is causing headaches after several road closures forced motorists to take detours.
Clutha District Council Catlins ward councillor Hilary McNab was philosophical about the closures, which she said affected a lot of people in the area.
''Snow road closures are just something we all learn to live with,'' she said.
''It's a pain and it puts everybody out, but we can't do much about it and the council does what it can to open roads as soon as they can.''
The Chaslands Highway has been impassable near Waipati since a big slip closed it on June 22 and then on Monday snow closed the detour put in place from Papatowai to the Niagara-Tokanui Highway along Tahakopa Valley Rd.
The Clinton-Mataura Highway was also closed yesterday by snow and those travelling from Dunedin to Invercargill were asked to stick to the inland route along SH1.
While the Tahakopa Valley Rd detour could open if the inclement weather eases, the slip-affected section of the main road through the Catlins could still be closed for up to a month.
Southland District Council roading asset management engineer Hartley Hare said yesterday fixing the slip-affected section - 2.8km from the Niagara-Tokanui Highway intersection and 8.7km from the Clutha district/Otago boundary - was likely to be finished in two to four weeks.
The Southland District Council maintains 11.5km of the Chaslands Highway after it leaves the Clutha district.
The council was considering two options to open the Southern Scenic Route on a temporary basis, Mr Hare said, but the weather and the closure of the alternate route had hampered the project.
The council was investigating whether a portable 30m Bailey bridge would be suitable for the slip site, or whether to cut into the inside bank and temporarily re-route the road around the slip.
Due to the unsafe nature of the slip, the geotechnical engineering work conducted last week was incomplete and more work would be required to investigate a permanent solution for the site, Mr Hare said.
Cr McNab said she had spoken to a cafe owner in Owaka and others reliant on tourism who were working to get the message out that Catlins attractions north of the slip were still accessible.
The Southern Scenic Route remained open past Papatowai through to the Whistling Frog Cafe, Cr McNab said.
While easily accessible from the north, travelling from Invercargill to McLean Falls given the current road conditions had changed from a 96.1km, 1hour 14minute drive, to a 205km, 2hour 41minute drive due to the road closures.
Travelling south, Balclutha to Curio Bay has changed from a 99.3km, 1hour 26minute drive, to a 186km, 2hour 28minute drive. In the Catlins, Cannibal Bay Rd remains closed from Ahuriri flat to the beach and Mouats Saddle Road remains closed.
Koi Flat Road in West Otago is also closed.
