Kaikoura Emergency Access Route (Inland Road) closure for assessment – Wednesday 23 November

22 November – 8.00pm

The Kaikoura Emergency Access Route (Inland Road) has been fully closed to all traffic for assessment following the 5.7 magnitude aftershock at 6.13pm, and the increased risk to the road from further landslides and the potential overtopping of the Towy River dam. This is in line with Emergency Management Canterbury’s established risk management plan to reassess the stability of the land and the safety of the road.

No traffic movement will take place along the route during the morning of Wednesday 23rd while geotechnical and structural assessments are undertaken. The target timeframe for assessments to be completed is midday on Wednesday. This means the NZDF convoy carrying supplies and essential services to Kaikoura, and the escorted vehicle access to Mt Lyford from Waiau, will not take place as planned in the morning. The situation will be reviewed at midday.

“Any delay is a cause of great frustration for all of us but people’s safety is our top priority when it comes to the use of this route. The movement orders for the day will be reworked so if/when it is safe to proceed, we can get things moving again as quickly as possible” says Duty Controller, Canterbury Emergency Management (Civil Defence), Brett Aldridge.

Updated information will be issued following the assessment.

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