Due to a vegetation fire, State highway 1 is closed north of the Rakaia River Bridge between Main Rakaia Rd and Frasers Rd. Police and the Fire Service are on site.
Update at 5.30pm
Drivers are asked to follow the direction of Transport Agency contractors, be ready to drive on unsealed roads and if they can, avoid the area or delay their journey across the Rakaia.
Update at 7.30 pm
SH1 detours Bankside could last all night.
Update on 8 Oct (Thu) at 6.30 am - Overnight update on the State highway closures around Christchurch
SH1 at Bankside, north of the Rakaia River, reopened before midnight last night, the fire eased. Traffic managers remaining on site. Drivers should take it slowly through this area as clean-ups may be ongoing close to the main highways.
Meanwhile SH75, main highway to Akaroa, closed from Hill Top to Barry's Bay last night due to a plantation fire and remained closed early this morning. The state highway is likely to be open today but the detour, Summit Road, is a sealed road. People heading to Akaroa or the Bank's Peninsula bays should factor in a few extra minutes.
Other updates from Fire Service/ Police will cover all fires, including in areas outside the main state highways.
For the latest information. go to www.highwayinfo.govt.nz(external link) or phone 0800 4 HIGHWAYS/ 0800 44 44 49. Also check out the Transport Agency’s Facebook page(external link).
