State Highway 6 next to Lake Wanaka reopens, Southland and other South Island highways update

A slip near Boundary Creek, between Makarora and the Neck* of Lake Wanaka, was cleared just before 10 am today and traffic is again able to get through to the West Coast. Drivers should anticipate short delays with one-way traffic likely.

The slip was at the same site – Bean Bluff – as an earlier slip in 2012, although it was not as substantial as that slip, says John Jarvis, Senior Network Manager, NZ Transport Agency.

“We encourage anyone who needs to use State Highway 6 to do so in the daylight as it is possible we may need to close it overnight. We will confirm this later today,” he says.

Mataura to Clinton, SH93 – reopened just after 10 am

• The Mataura to Clinton state highway, closed by snow part of yesterday and earlier today, has now reopened. Drivers are warned that the snow is slushy with ice so drive to the conditions.
• Mataura to Clinton highway earlier today

Canterbury-West Coast

• The Canterbury-West Coast alpine passes (SH7 Lewis ie Hanmer to Springs Junction and Springs Junction to Reefton and SH73 Arthurs/ Otira), are all open but chains are essential and no towing vehicles.
• There is ice on the Lindis Pass in South Canterbury, and drivers need to take care but no restrictions otherwise.

Otago/ Southland update

• There is black ice on State Highway 1, between Palmerston and Gore, Dunedin to Waitati, Waipahi to Evansdale, and Milton to Gore and ice between Clinton and Balclutha.
• There is snow and ice on the just reopened Mataura to Clinton route (SH93).
• SH 94 Te Anau to Milford is closed to towing vehicles.
• There is black ice on SH87 Kyeburn to Middlemarch with care needed.
• Between Kawarau Falls and Lumsden there is ice - care is needed.
• Mandeville to Riversdale, drivers need to take care with ice on the road.

All drivers need to be careful especially under shaded areas that get little sun, keep safe following distances and drive prepared for the cold and slippery winter conditions, says John Jarvis.

Upper South Island – Takaka to St Arnaud

• There is snow and ice on State Highways 60 (Takaka to Riwaka), 6 (Murchison to Wakefield) and 63 (Rainbow ski field to St Arnaud) and drivers need to take care.

For more information

• See the NZ Transport Agency's travel and traffic page(external link)
• MetService snow warnings(external link)
• Call 0800 4 HIGHWAYS 0800 44 44 49
• Queenstown Lakes District road conditions(external link)

*The Neck is a low saddle between Lakes Hawea and Wanaka.