Many state highways closed – extreme caution urged on roads

The NZ Transport Agency is advising motorists that several state highways throughout the country are closed due to the extreme weather conditions, with some roads unlikely to re-open today.

Heavy snow, sleet and high winds are making conditions treacherous throughout the country. Motorists are urged to avoid all but urgent travel and to exercise extreme caution if they do need to drive.

Heavy snowfalls have closed most state highways in Southland and Central Otago, and some may remain closed all day. Current closures and restrictions in the area include:

SH1: Gore to Clinton – closed
Sh 1 Waitaki Bridge to Dunedin - closed
Sh 1 Dunedin to Gore - closed
SH6: Kingston to Five Rivers -closed
SH6: Five Rivers to Dipton -chains required no towing vehicles.
SH93: Mataura to Clinton - closed
SH94: Gore to Lumsden - chains essential, closed to towing vehicles
SH94 Mossburn to Te Anau - closed to towing vehicles, carry chains
SH94 Te Anau to Hollyford Turnoff - closed to towing vehicles, carry chains
SH94 Hollyford Turnoff to Milford - closed
SH97: Five River to Mossburn - chains essential closed to towing vehicles
SH 8 Raes Jnc to Milton - closed
SH 85 Palmerston to Kyeburn - closed
SH 87 Mosgiel to Kyeburn - closed
SH 8 Alexandra to Roxburgh - chains required
SH 8 Roxburgh to Raes Jnc - open care required

Other South Island closures include SH75, SH73 and SH1 in North Canterbury, with chains essential on SH7.

Conditions are also treacherous in many parts of the North Island, with the SH2 Rimutaka Hill Road closed and unlikely to reopen today due to heavy snowfall. Also closed are SH1 the Desert Road (with the alternate route from Waiouru to Taihape also closed), SH5, and SH35 closed due to a washout at Waipiro.

A further update on highway conditions will be provided at 4pm.