State Highway 6 through Wakefield closes as residents evacuated due to fire risk

With the Nelson and Tasman Civil Defence Emergency Operations team decision to evacuate more streets in Wakefield, State Highway 6 which runs through the town is being closed for the safety of all road users.

“People will be able to leave the town but not enter State Highway 6 to get to Wakefield,” says NZ Transport Agency System Manager Frank Porter.

Northbound traffic will be stopped at Kohatu on the south side and Robinsons Road, and just south of Brightwater for southbound traffic. (Kohatu, near Motupiko, is at the intersection to the Tapawera road through to Motueka.)

• A detour will be put in place via Motueka on the inland highway.
“The NZ Transport Agency’s highway maintenance contractors are working closely with the Emergency Operations Centre and Police to assist with the coordination and staffing of the state highway closures,” says Mr Porter.

http://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/traffic/regions/10 (this map is due to be updated shortly to show the full closure)

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