SH6 reopening between glacier towns 3 pm, overnight closure confirmed Makarora to Franz Josef

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) is reopening a section of SH6 in South Westland between the two glacier towns at 3 pm today. SH6 between Fox and Franz Josef Glacier towns has been closed all day due to a slip caused by the heavy overnight rain.

NZTA warns drivers there will be 30-minute delays getting between the two towns given a backlog of traffic and single lane access.

• Another slip closer to Haast was cleared at midday today.
• NZTA crews are keeping a close eye on the rivers in South Westland and the effects tonight’s rainfall may have on bridges and the highway.

SH6 closing 9 pm Makarora to Franz Josef, next update 10 am Thursday

Given the forecast heavy rain arriving in South Westland and the top of Otago later tonight, SH6 will be closing at 9 pm tonight, with an update at 10 am tomorrow (Thursday). The closure will run between Makarora in Otago and Franz Josef township in South Westland.

“Muddy Creek, north of Makarora on the Otago side of SH6, is catching the heavy rainfall which will cause issues if the banks break,” says Nicole Felts, NZTA Journey Manager for Otago and Southland. “For this reason, we will close SH6 at Makarora from 9 pm tonight connecting onto the West Coast closure.”

NZTA thanks all West Coast and Otago travellers for their patience working around these slip and flooding-related closures on SH6.

Top of the South weather update