SH6 still closed near Murchison due to massive rockfall

Murchison and Reefton were quiet this morning, with all roads to Nelson closed due to a challenging rockfall near Murchison township, and snow on the Lewis Pass.

Travel between Nelson and the West Coast was diverted through State Highway 1, via Kaikoura and eventually, Arthur's Pass.

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency says it will give the next update tomorrow at 5pm on when State Highway 6 will reopen past the rockfall at Dellows Bluff, halfway between the township and O'Sullivans Bridge.

Some of the rocks which fell across the road at 4am yesterday are the size of cars.

Compounding problems, snow closed Lewis Pass overnight, although the route reopened mid-morning.

Paul Thomas said the main street of Reefton was quiet this morning, while Matthew Topp, from the Murchison Mobil service station, said traffic dropped off yesterday morning.

"It's quiet. They're not letting anyone through."

Tasman Cr Stuart Bryant, who lives near Murchison, said it was very frustrating.

He was heading down State Highway 1 through Kaikoura this morning to get to Christchurch, and said that the alternative route was "very busy".

NZTA top of the south systems manager Andrew James said there was a risk of further rockfalls above the road.

"We have to keep this section of State Highway 6 closed while we make it safe for traffic from the unstable rock above the road. You can see from the size of the boulders that came down earlier ... there is a genuine risk to road users. Their safety is our priority."

Mr James said the closure was set to last for several days and possibly longer. Safety barriers would be put in place to protect traffic while the rockface was stabilised.

"It's going to take some time to put these barriers in place. Once they're in, we can open a lane of the road that is fully protected while contractors work to remove the rockfall danger. That single lane will be in place while the rock face is fixed."

The Haast Pass reopened yesterday after being closed for a few days. Contractors removed large trees from the road and also cleared an overnight slip at Pleasant Flat.