SH73 slip keeps highway closed over night

SH73 west of Jacksons, a key Canterbury-West coast route, will remain closed overnight, says Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency.

• The local roads between Greymouth/ Stillwater and Lake Brunner/ Jacksons are the detour route for most traffic.
• SH7, the Lewis Pass route, can be used as a detour for all HPMVs as only some HPMVs are permitted for SH73 west of Springfield and the Lake Brunner Road.

A sizeable slip near Turiwhate Creek covered the highway before midday after torrential rain today.  (See photos below)

The slip material should be cleared and the highway reopened by 10 am Friday (tomorrow), says Moira Whinham, Maintenance Contract Manager for Waka Kotahi on the West Coast.

The muddy, rock and vegetation-filled slip at Turiwhate Creek covering SH73 west of Jacksons this afternoon:

 

“A local road detour is in place via Lake Brunner Road and Stillwater, turn-off near Jacksons from the Canterbury side, however it will add an hour or so to the journey to or from the West Coast,” says Moira Whinham.

• High productivity motor vehicle drivers (HPMVs) should take the Lewis Pass route between the West Coast and Canterbury via Waipara.

“Please drive to the conditions if you can’t avoid or delay the journey,” she says.

SH73 Jacksons to Kumara live traffic updates(external link)

Detour route while SH73 is closed east of Kumara.