Police and Waka Kotahi are issuing new warnings tonight after another round of slips and flooding. Photo / Hayden Woodward
Police and Waka Kotahi are issuing new warnings tonight after another round of slips and flooding. Photo / Hayden Woodward
Parts of the Tasman and the West Coast are being warned that cell service will not be available tonight as massive slips rip through the region after the wild weather today.
A portion of State Highway 6 will remain closed through the night and police are urging all motorists in the area to stay off the roads unless travel is “absolutely essential”.
“Police urge motorists to please obey signage that says roads are closed as emergency services may have difficulty reaching them,” authorities said in a statement this afternoon.
SH6 is closed from Harihari to Haast.
A slip north of Hari Hari coming down from Mount Bonar. Photo / Facebook
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency official Mark Pinner said today’s heavy rain has marred the roadway with downed trees and slips, including a large slip at Lake Ianthe between Ross and Harihari. Contractors will return to clear the roadway in the morning.
“Our road crews have been working hard to clear debris all day and will continue through to nightfall,” Pinner said. “However, we are pulling them out tonight for safety reasons and with more heavy rain forecast.
“We will reassess the highway’s status tomorrow. But until then, it remains closed.”
With more rain expected for Buller, Tasman, Westland, Nelson and Marlborough — and a strong wind warning for the Canterbury High Country — the transport agency has echoed the advice from police to stay off the roads if possible.
A slip north of Hari Hari coming down from Mount Bonar. Photo / Facebook
“It’s much better to arrive late than not at all,” Pinner said.
Real-time road information can be viewed at the Waka Kotahi Journey Planner website. However, tonight’s anticipated weather may cause hazards that result in roadways being closed at short notice, officials said.
Meanwhile, parts of South Westland are without power tonight and affected areas will be without cellphone coverage or internet connection until power is restored.
A slip north of Hari Hari coming down from Mount Bonar. Photo / Facebook
A post by West Coast Emergency Management says Westpower has advised that power in affected areas of South Westland will not be restored tonight.
“Please treat all powerlines as live at all times.
“We have also been advised that the cell phone tower batteries will run out overnight. This will mean that there will be no cell phone coverage or internet in the affected areas of South Westland until power is restored.”
