Omarama residents woke yesterday to a sense of splendid isolation, at least for an hour or so.
Black ice on the region’s roads yesterday morning resulted in, at one point, all highway connection to Omarama being closed.
NZ Transport Agency said the road between Otematata and Omarama was closed briefly — less than two hours — due to black ice in the area, before reopening about 10am.
SH8 between Omarama and Tarras at Lindis Pass was closed due to black ice, before reopening under ice and grit conditions about 10.30am.
SH8 was also closed between Twizel and Fairlie, as was SH80 between Lake Pukaki and Mt Cook.
In Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes, motorists were warned to drive carefully.
Hato Hone St John said in a statement it responded to seven motor vehicle incidents across the Otago and Southland regions during the 12 hours until noon yesterday. From those incidents, one patient, in a moderate condition, required transportation to Lakes District Hospital. — APL
