2020 Floods
Feb 7, 10:40 AM
Please note this post will no longer be updated and all road information and updates will be published at this link https://whatsoninvers.nz/live-flood-updates-news-road-information-updates-from-councils-emergency-southland/
Feb 7, 10 AM Emergency Management Southland
An update on the roading situation in southern Southland:
The Tokanui Gorge Road between Gorge Road and Fortrose is still closed. A detour route is available between Wyndham and Tokanui via Wyndham Letter Box Road and Mataura Island Fortrose Road to Waimahaka and onwards to Tokanaui or Fortrose.
Mataura Island Road is still closed at Mataura Island.
If you are heading north to Mataura access between Wyndham and Mataura is available along Wyndham Road.
The focus around this area will be to re-establish connections, when water recede sufficiently through Mataura Island to link up with Seaward Downs Gorge Road which provides an alternative route between Gorge Road Township and Fortrose.
We will continue to update as information comes in.
Feb 7, 9:20 AM Emergency Management Southland
The road to Te Anau is open on SH94 but because of surface flooding through The Key, between Hillside – Manapouri Road and Blackmount – Redcliff Road, there is a 30 km/h temporary speed restriction in place. Caution is advised along this route. SH94 is closed from Cascade Creek to Chasm due to extensive damage, and is expected to remain closed until at least Wednesday 12 February.
Feb 6, 9 PM Roading Update
The road between Wallacetown and Lorneville (SH99) has reopened. There is a 30km/h temporary speed restriction in place. Take extra care.
Feb 6, 9 PM Roading Update
The Southland District Council roading team has advised the road between Edendale and Wyndham will be opened at 7pm for light vehicles only. Speed restriction will be in place. Suitability for heavy vehicles will be assessed in the morning.
Wyndham Road and Wyndham Letter Box Road is also suitable for use however caution is advised as there is still an isolated section of the road with some flood waters partially covering lanes.
Roads in the lower Mataura and Oreti catchments:
We are still working on consolidating a list for these areas and in the meantime all roads should be driven with caution as the flood waters will take some time to recede. Flooding will persist in some areas after other sections of roads become accessible.
In Northern Southland:
Contractors have been able to get out to most of Northern Southland and have provided the following notification. All signs will be relocated first thing tomorrow morning to reflect these change unless other wise requested.
Roads to remain closed:
Ellis Road
McLean Road
Gallagher Road
Piano Flat Road
Ardlussa Cattleflat
Waipounamu Bridge Road
Otamita Gorge Road
Block Road
Roads speed restricted to 30kmh:
Nokomai Road
Blackmore Road
Felton Road
Roy Road
Tomogalak Road
Pyramid Waiparu Road
Plain Station Road
Riversdale Waikaia Road
Feb 6, 5:28 PM
Southland District Council and Highways South roading update.
Following a fly over of the lower Mataura area we can confirm the preferred option in and out is along Wyndham Road and Wyndham Letter Box Road. This is still contingent on access through Mataura.
We are working on an establishing a one lane gravel track for the section of road which has been damaged between Wyndham and the bridge. Depending on the rate of water receding this is expected to take up to 4 hours and the final work will use the material used for the sandbagging.
At the moment there are vehicles using the Slope Down Road to move out of the area however, this is not a preferred route due to the type of road it is. Our preference would be to have people wait until the road link through Wyndham is re-established.
We understand that there may be people who are out of fuel Tokanui/Fortrose. There is the potential to bring fuel in via Owaka through Chasland Highway to Tokanui. While the road is closed this has been put in place for those wanting to get access to Invercargill.
Northern Southland:
The water is receding and we have had contractors out in the area.
SouthRoads have been undertaking a preliminary assessment of the roads in Northern Southland and we expect to have that information later today.
A quick overview of roads from Highways South:
- SH 1 Clinton – Gore – Open with caution
- SH 1 Gore – Mataura – ClosedSH 6 Five Rivers – Frankton – Open
- SH 6 Makarewa River – Open with caution
- SH 93 Clinton – Mataura – Closed
- SH 94 The Key – Open with caution
- SH 97 Mossburn – Fiver Rivers – Open with caution
- SH 99 Makarewa River – Closed
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency says that access to Invercargill via SH1 and Gore is now available as flood waters have receded in the central Southland area overnight.
People coming from the east coast via SH1 and Clinton have a detour route of local roads west of Gore to Waimumu onto SH96, Te Tipua, then back onto SH1, says Transport Agency Journey Manager Peter Brown.
“Or drivers and riders can go via Lumsden, SH94 and onto Invercargill via SH6 through Winton,” he says.
Gore to Mandeville, SH94, the Waimea Highway, reopened this morning as did SH96 Mataura to Te Tipua.
Other major changes overnight and this morning are:
- SH6, the Makarewa Bridge north of Invercargill has reopened. Stop/go traffic management site is in place, so people should be ready for delays. This opens up access to Invercargill from the north. (The bridge over the Makarewa before Wallacetown on SH99 remains closed.)
- SH6 Frankton to Five Rivers remains closed but has had a number of successful convoys last evening and more this morning to get traffic out of Te Anau via Five Rivers and onto Queenstown, where roads are open to the north. The road is now closed for the final repairs and rockfall area inspections before a mid-afternoon opening. Check these links to see exactly when this highway south of Frankton/ Queenstown will reopen this afternoon:
Frankton to Kingston: journeys.nzta.govt.nz/traffic/roadclosures/289766 - Kingston to Lumsden: journeys.nzta.govt.nz/traffic/roadclosures/289876
- Fiordland, Milford Sound Piopiotahi, SH94
“We are aiming to open SH94 from Te Anau to Cascade Creek this afternoon (6 February), then open as far as the Hollyford Turnoff or The Divide by Friday afternoon (7 February),” says Mr Brown. - The full highway into Milford Sound Piopiotahi will not be open until at least mid next week and possibly beyond that, dependent on progress at a number of badly damaged sites.
- Wider than this convoy route – Catlins local roads still closed
Civil Defence reports that a state of emergency continues in Clutha District and local roads managed by the councils are still close at Owaka in the Catlins where flooding is continuing to affect access as of this morning.
Related: Link to Live updates.
https://whatsoninvers.nz/live-flood-updates-video-photos/