Warning for drivers after slips and floodwaters close roads

Photo / Bay of Plenty Times

Slips and surface flooding caused havoc for motorists in the lower North Island yesterday as heavy rain and gales swept the region.

In the afternoon, police urged motorists to drive carefully, with dipped headlights, after slips on Rimutaka Hill Rd, north of Wellington.

Several hours earlier, several small slips closed the Manawatu Gorge near Palmerston North, and a detour via Saddle Rd was partially blocked.

Driving conditions in the Manawatu were "treacherous", said Transport Agency acting state highways manager David McGonigal.

"We've got emergency crews working across the network cleaning up slips and managing traffic, but in the meantime we advise motorists to exercise the greatest of care when driving and to avoid unnecessary travel where possible," he said.

Parts of State Highways 1, 3, 54 and 56 were under water.

Further south, roads near Shannon and Levin also flooded as stormwater drains struggled to cope with the deluge. Wanganui, Rangitikei and Tararua also suffered extensive flooding.

Slips and floods closed SH3 south of Wanganui and SH43 in the King Country between Whangamomona and the Moki Tunnel.

Wanganui council infrastructure manager Julian Reweti said consistent rainfall since 5am had pushed the stormwater system to its limits.

Five local roads were closed, two of which would stay closed until today.

In Rangitikei, Calico Line on SH1, 13km north of Bulls, was closed.

In the northern Wairarapa, the main road between Eketahuna and Pahiatua was closed by flooding.

No alternative routes were available as local roads were also flooded.

Civil Defence yesterday morning activated its emergency plan for the Hutt River north of Wellington after exceptionally heavy rainfall.

High winds in exposed parts of Wellington and the Wairarapa were expected to ease after they caused havoc on the roads.

In the South Island, wind and heavy rain hit Fiordland and the Southern Alps, swelling waterways.

- NZPA