Icy roads caused at least four crashes in the Wakatipu basin yesterday morning.
Overnight rain followed by a hard frost meant the entire roading network was affected, causing delays during the morning rush hour.
Police reported four non-injury crashes in a 90-minute period after 7.30am, and there were unconfirmed reports of ice-related crashes in McDonnell Rd and at Arthurs Point.
The incidents reported by police were a car that crashed into a barrier on Whitechapel Rd near the Arrow River Bridge at 7.39am; a car that rolled on Gorge Rd near Industrial Pl at 7.45am; a commercial van that rolled on State Highway 6 near the intersection with Tucker Beach Rd at 7.49am; and a car that overturned on the Crown Range Rd, on the Queenstown side of the summit, at 8.54am.
None of the crashes resulted in injuries, and St John Queenstown station manager Keith Raymond confirmed no-one was taken to hospital yesterday morning as a result of traffic incidents.
Scott Shaw, contract manager for the council's roading contractor Downer, said yesterday's icy roads were a case of "exceptional circumstances''.
When asked about questions on social media why some roads were not gritted, Mr Shaw said the district's roads were classified into three priority levels. The highest priority - arterial routes used by emergency service vehicles - were attended to first.
"We won't leave them until they're safe.''
The company's seven grit trucks always began operating before 5am.
His drivers had reported instances of motorists passing them and generally being "impatient''. The trucks had to travel at 30kmh while dropping grit and he urged motorists not to overtake them.
"They're putting us and themselves at risk.''
