Police are warning motorists to stay cautious on Otago's roads after a wild storm caused slips and heavy rain gave way to frost and black ice.
A police spokeswoman confirmed officers had attended a number of crashes related to black ice near Dunedin on Sunday morning.
Incidents had occurred as far afield as Karitane and Allanton.
A two-vehicle crash on Portobello Rd as well as slips caused delays, but the road fully reopened at 5pm. Work to clear a slip on Harington Point Rd just past the turnoff to Harwood had been completed.
Harington Point Rd from Portobello to the tanks traps near Taiaroa Head was open to residents only access with extreme care from 5pm.
The road beyond the tank traps (1025 Harington Point Road) would remain impassable and staff were assessing options to restore access.
Aramoana Rd was now open to residents’ only access at Deborah Bay through to Aramoana. Driver should take extreme care, as there was debris and surface flooding and in some places the road was one lane only.
Authorities were discouraging "rubberneckers" from entering areas ravaged by slips and flooding following the deluge that began on Friday afternoon.
"If you are not affected please keep out of the way," Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull said. "We don't need rubberneckers."
Widespread black ice following the rain had made roads throughout the city council area treacherous and provided "more reason to not go look at other people's troubles", he said.
Mr Cull advised residents to contact the area's authorities for help or advice if needed.
Major highways reopen
On Saturday night, police advised motorists to plan ahead and travel carefully following the torrent which brought dumpings of more than 100mm to most of East Otago.
State Highway 1 from Waikouaiti to Waitati, SH1 from Mosgiel to Milton, SH87 from Kokonga to Outram, SH85 from Pukeuri to Omarama, SH8 from Omarama to Tarras and were open again on Sunday, police said.
"It is important to remember that these roads still have a lot of surface flooding, or snow and ice, and driving conditions remain hazardous.''
NZTA reopened State Highway 88 (Dunedin to Port Chalmers) on Sunday afternoon following the clearance of two slips which had closed the road between Maia and Roseneath.
On Saturday night, SH8 from Milton to Raes Junction and SH1 from Milton to Balclutha remained closed due to flooding.
"Despite this, a number of motorists have ignored signage and advice of officials and still chosen to try and travel these routes," police said.
"This is incredibly dangerous, the road is closed for a reason. We want every driver to jump on the NZTA website to check the condition of each road they will be using before getting into their vehicles.
"If you are on the road, please remember to follow signage and advice from officials, slow down, use your lights and adjust according to the conditions."
While many highways had reopened since Saturday’s peak of the storm, in Otago and South and Mid-Canterbury ice had replaced flood water on many routes.
Grit had been applied in many places which also required slower speeds, NZTA maintenance contract manager Nic Rodger said.
Debris, potholes and broken road edges also required drivers to slow down and treat all areas with caution.
• A full list of road closures and conditions is available online at www.dunedin.govt.nz/road-conditions. State highway closures are on the NZ Transport Agency website at http://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/traffic/.
