State Highway 6 through the Kawarau Gorge has reopened to traffic after the major rockfall which forced north bound motorists to take an hour-long detour on the Crown Range Rd was cleared.
New Zealand Transport Agency Central Otago area manager John Jarvis told the Otago Daily Times tonight the highway re-opened at 6pm after ''a successful day'' of uninterrupted sluicing and debris clearance by contractors.
If the rockfall at Crawford's Hill, 2km west of Roaring Meg, had not been cleared by nightfall, it was likely the highway would have been closed for a second consecutive night.
Mr Jarvis warned motorists to take extra care and expect delays of a few minutes on the gorge highway tomorrow while clean-up operations continued.
Slips caused by snowmelt have disrupted key routes in the South.
The Haast Pass was closed because of a slip at Halfway Bluff but has reopened.
A caution is in place on SH8 between Cromwell and Alexandra where a slip is causing water to cross the road.
SH94 between Te Anau and Milford Sound is closed because of rockfalls and SH1 between Clinton and Gore (3km west Of Waipahi) is closed because of a washout.
Last night rising floodwaters threatened six Ophir homes and the Omakau bridge was closed for safety reasons.
After re-opening to traffic for about an hour earlier today the Omakau bridge was closed again due to surface flooding this afternoon. The Ida Valley road is open although caution is advised because of flooding in the area.
The flooded Manuherikia River meant residents of several Ophir homes were on stand-by to evacuate on Saturday night but the river peaked and started dropping, allaying those fears.
Last night Central Otago police area commander Senior Sergeant Ian Kerrisk said the residents of six Ophir properties on the outskirts of the town had been given notice they might have to evacuate their homes if floodwaters continued to rise.
"We're not expecting that to happen but we have issued a warning to them as a precaution."
The Omakau bridge had been closed to all traffic because of the large amount of debris washed against the bridge piles.
"It's closed as a safety precaution and an engineer will inspect it tomorrow," Snr Sgt Kerrisk said.
There was still access to Ophir via the Daniel O'Connell suspension bridge, which was clear of debris.
"We're aware that people camp near the banks of the river, even at this time of the year, so we're warning people not to camp anywhere near Central Otago rivers right now," he said.
