Highways still closed in wake of wild weather

Work under way on the slip at Mt Hercules, north of Franz Josef. Photo: NZTA
Work under way on the slip at Mt Hercules, north of Franz Josef. Photo: NZTA
A section of flood-damaged State Highway 1 between Dunedin and Christchurch remains closed today, but progress is being made in restoring access to a weather-battered West Coast.

The NZ Transport Agency says SH1 at Rangitata remains closed and there is no word on when it will reopen.

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Road users can cross the Rangitata River via a bridge near Arundel on Route 72. However, owing to to speed restrictions and increased traffic volumes, delays are likely.

On the other side of the island, the NZTA hopes to reopen State Highway 6 between Franz Josef and Fox Glacier this morning, after a slip closed the highway in the recent heavy rains.

North of Franz Josef, SH6 will remain closed "until further notice". The NZTA says it hopes to have the road reopened by Christmas, but says this is weather dependent.

The highway from Hokitika to Franz Josef has been closed since Saturday after heavy rain over the weekend caused several washouts and slips along the highway, leaving hundreds of tourists and locals stranded in the region.