Road users urged to take care on South Island roads
MEDIA RELEASE
13 June 2017 | SOUTHERN REGION
Road users urged to take care on South Island roads
[Update – SH87 reopened:
• Due to snow, State Highway 87, Outram to Kyeburn, in Otago, was closed thismorning to all non-four wheel drive vehicles. After midday today, it reopened. Check the Transport Agency’s map for updates.]
The NZ Transport Agency says drivers need to be extra vigilant in the South Island, with the wintry blast expected to continue to affect roads and driving conditions in many areas over the next two days.
• Due to snow, State Highway 87, Outram to Kyeburn, in Otago, is closed to all non-four wheel drive vehicles. Check the Transport Agency’s map for updates.
• It is also snowing on the Crown Range Road between Wanaka and Queenstown and chains must be fitted between Eastburn Road and Chain Bay 1. The snow level is forecast to drop later in the day. Check QLDC Facebook for updates.
Transport Agency
Journey Manager Lee Wright says the MetService are advising of snow showers,
rain, high winds and high seas in many places today
andtomorrow. Contractors will be gritting shaded, ice-prone
areas, she said.
“Please keep your speeds down,
especially when driving on gritted roads,” she says.
Ms
Wright says motorists should be prepared for very cold
weather especially if they’re travelling the alpine passes
such as SH73 Arthur’s Pass, SH7 Lewis Pass, and SH8 Lindis
Pass, as conditions can change quickly and catch people
out.
The Transport Agency’s Winter Journeys campaign aims to encourage drivers to be safe through planning ahead for an enjoyable winter driving experience.http://www.nzta.govt.nz/traffic-and-travel-information/winter-journeys
The
Picton to Christchurch Alternate Route, SH7 - Lewis
Pass:
MetService advises that snow is expected
to about 800 metres this evening and clear early Wednesday
morning. Between 7pm today and 1am Wednesday, 2 to 4cm of
snow may settle about the top of the
road.
Arthur’s Pass, SH73
Snow is
likely near the summit until 5pm today, with 1 or 2cm
possibly settling on the top of the road, Met Service
reported around 11 am today.
Lindis Pass,
SH8
Snow is expected above 600 metres until
midnight tonight, and 2 to 5cm may settle about the top of
the road, with lesser amounts to 600
metres.
Haast Pass, SH6
Snow is
possible about higher parts of the road until early this
evening, although little if any is expected to
settle.
Milford Road (SH94)
Snow is
expected until midnight tonight, and 3 to 5cm may settle
about the top of the road. Icy conditions are expected on
the road early Wednesday morning.
Dunedin to
Waitati Highway (SH1)
Snow showers expected to
continue until 6am tomorrow (Wednesday), 1 to 3cm could
settle on the road.
Simple rules for safe winter
travelling:
•allow extra time
•ensure
your vehicle is safe for winter driving
•drive to the
road and weather conditions
•slow down and be prepared
for unexpected hazards
•allow greater following
distance between you and the vehicle ahead
•make sure
your cell phone is well charged, check car charger
also
•have blankets, snacks, bottles of water ready in
case of emergency or a breakdown.
How to stay up
to date:
• Find safe winter driving tips at www.nzta.govt.nz/winterjourneys
• The key traffic and travel source which provides
up-to-date information on weather and road conditions is www.nzta.govt.nz/traffic
• Important information is also shared via the
Transport Agency’s official Twitter and Facebook accounts
listed here https://www.nzta.govt.nz/contact-us/connect-with-us/
• If
you live in Queenstown Lakes District, or travel to and from
Queenstown, sign up for QLDC’s winter road reports here.
• Drivers can also call
0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49) to speak to the call centre
team for traffic and travel information.
• MetService
severe weather warnings here.
• MetService road snowfall
warnings here. (http://www.metservice.com/warnings/road-snowfall-warnings)