More road closures of State Highway 94 between Milford Sound and Te Anau are likely this week due to an increasing avalanche risk.

SH94/Te Anau-Milford Highway, home to some of the world’s biggest avalanches, was scheduled to close on Monday afternoon at Lower Hollyford Rd because of the increased risk.

It was expected to reopen by about 9am on Tuesday.

All-day closures are also possible for Wednesday and Thursday this week when snow to road level is forecast.

The Milford Road Alliance, a partnership between NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi and Downer, is tasked with ensuring the safe and efficient management of activities on State Highway 94, including avalanche control.

“We move into the avalanche hazard about this time each year as spring conditions make snow more unstable,”  Milford Road Alliance manager Kevin Thompson said in a statement.

“During the winter, snow builds up on the mountains above the road and come spring with warmer conditions such as warm rain, more sun or other natural triggers like rockfalls, the avalanche danger increases.

“We are now in a ‘low hazard’ status — meaning avalanches are unlikely and travel is mostly unrestricted on SH94, but we are cautious.” 

Mr Thompson said a typical season would involve between 200 and 400 avalanches above and around the road.

“We manage the risk to those going to Milford Sound by using both passive controls like no stopping areas, short closures, signage and patrolling and moving people along, and also using active controls such as full road closures and use of explosives to reduce snow volumes above the road by creating avalanches before nature does.

“While we are managing the avalanche hazard, other Fiordland conditions can continue to come into play and a mixture of issue or events at the same time can impact travel to Milford Sound, including snowfall, vehicle crashes, ice, tree fall, rockfall and earthquakes.”  — Allied Media