Road reopened after snow cleared

The snow was no match for powerful machinery on Milford Rd yesterday.

Waka Kotahi/New Zealand Transport Agency worked in freezing conditions to plough their way through 35km of snow to reopen Fiordland’s Milford Road.

The snow was picturesque in places but it was swiftly put aside by workers to keep the road open for as long as possible.

Heavy snow fell in the area over the past few days and led to the road — State Highway 94 — being closed on Monday.

Milford Road Alliance manager Kevin Thompson said crews using a loader with an articulated blade had been hard at work carving a path through the deep snow.

Plough trucks then came through and finished the job to get the road open, he said.

The road opened at 12.15pm yesterday.

The forecast was clear for the next few days so it was expected the route would remain passable.