The NZ Transport Agency is confident the section State highway 94 from the Hollyford turn-off to Milford Sound will re-open tomorrow, Thursday 13 September 2012.
A week of severe weather conditions in the area has closed the road on-and-off over the last week. The current closure was put in place on Monday. Over 500mm of rain has fallen near the Homer Tunnel in the past seven days.
NZ Transport Agency Otago-Southland State highways Manager Ian Duncan says getting the road open again will depend on the outcome of an initial inspection around 7:30am tomorrow. It is expected that icy conditions may exist if the road is re-opened so we will be making the road surface is well gritted and safe before traffic is allowed on it.
“Control work has been carried out in the last day or two to bring down snow at a number of locations along the highway with the biggest of these being at Students and Raspberry Creeks. The avalanche at Raspberry Creek is up to five metres deep blanketing a 100 metre stretch of highway. If the road opens tomorrow motorists should allow extra time as they may be delays as areas of snow are cleared off the road.”
Mr Duncan says people who wanted to leave Milford Sound over the last week have been escorted out by the road contractors. Last Thursday 34 vehicles left Milford Sound this way. Getting supplies to those who have chosen to remain at Milford Sound will be carried out as soon as the road re-opens, although there are no immediate issues with supplies running out.
