Road users advised to slow down, drive with extreme care in wet and windy conditions: 12:00pm update

Widespread flooding conditions are affecting many highway across North and South Canterbury with heavy rain continuing throughout the day.

The NZ Transport Agency is continuing to remind drivers to slow down and take extra care on South Island roads today with heavy rain continuing to fall resulting in surface flooding and slips throughout Tasman, Marlborough, Kaikoura Coast, and North and South Canterbury. The latest information is as follows:

• State Highway 1 south of Kaikoura Coast Road is closed, next update 2pm
• The Inland 70 Route via Waiau and Mt Lyford is closed due to rockfalls until further notice
• State Highway 75 Banks Peninsula was closed at Robinsons Bay due to a slip, now open to one lane of traffic
• State Highway 79, South Canterbury Pusey Gorge down to a single lane due to a slip - take extra care
• State Highway 1, Saltwater Creek North Canterbury - down to a single lane, take extra care
• Surface flooding from Dunsandel to south of Asburton, south on State Highway 1
• State Highway 7 flooding at Pahau Bridge, and light snow on the summit of the Lewis Pass
• State Highway 79 near Skipton Bridge - flooding across road
• State Highway 79 Geraldine and Fairlie - significant flooding, road could close at any moment. People can use State Highway 1 and 8 as a detour
• State Highway 1 Waipara to State Highway 7 Junction to Woodend - surface flooding
• State Highway 77 between Ashburton and Methven and 77  closed due to significant surface flooding - no detour route - people need to head home now

Check the NZTA traffic website for the status of the highway.

Motorists need to keep their speeds down, allow plenty of stopping distance and be mindful of surface flooding,” says Lee Wright, Transport Agency Journey Manager.

Road users need to plan ahead if travelling today and can stay up-to-date with the latest road conditions at: www.nzta.govt.nz/traffic(external link) 

Important information is also shared via the Transport Agency’s official Twitter and Facebook accounts listed here.

Find safe winter driving tips at www.nzta.govt.nz/winterjourneys   (external link)

Drivers can also call 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49) to speak to the call centre team who can provide them with traffic and travel information either before they’re travelling or when they’re on the road, safely parked off the highway.

MetService severe weather warnings here.(external link) 

Keep up to date with the latest MetService forecasts and any watches/warnings at metservice.com(external link) or on mobile devices at m.metservice.com.(external link)