The NZ Transport Agency’s contractors are continuing to work to clear several slips in the Lower Buller Gorge area where three vehicles were trapped earlier today.
The Transport Agency’s Regional Performance Manager Pete Connors says our contractors are working from both ends of the Gorge to clear the slips and get State Highway 6 open to single-lane traffic later today.
“Our contractors worked hard to get the vehicles, which were caught between the two main slips earlier today, out at about 12.30pm.”
Mr Connors says one of the vehicles, a campervan driving through the area, had the rear of it caught and damaged by one of the slips. “The occupants were shaken but uninjured by the incident, being assisted from the area earlier in the day by local police.”
He says the water running off the hillside is causing some problems with clearing the slips, however the contractors remain hopeful of getting the highway re-opened later today.
“The slip at Summit Creek has brought about 2000 cubic metres of material onto the highway.”
Meanwhile, flooding on State Highway 67, from Westport to Granity, has been closed by flooding to all but four-wheel-drive vehicles at Big Ditch, while a kilometre further up the highway Jones Creek has come across the highway and caused damage to the road.
Mr Connors says rain has eased in the area but more rain is forecast. “Motorists are being asked to take care with considerable surface flooding and many of the rivers still running high.”
For the latest information on what is happening on the state highways: phone 0800 4 HIGHWAYS or visit the website: www.highwayinfo.govt.nz(external link)
For more information please contact:
Jan McCarthy
Media Manager - Christchurch
T: 03 964 2885
M: 021 427 442
E: jan.mccarthy@nzta.govt.nz
