Motorists urged to avoid non-essential travel as wild weather causes road closures

Sunday, 13 February 2022

Large slip at Rawhitiroa Road.

Drivers across the country are being urged to take extra care after heavy rain and gale-force winds have caused major road closures due to slips and flooding.

All lanes on the Auckland Harbour Bridge are closed until further notice as a safety precaution from severe wind gusts.

Waka Kotahi is working closely with MetService to monitor wind speeds, and road crews are ready to reopen the bridge as soon as the high winds have passed and it is safe for traffic to use.

The transport agency is advising motorists to plan ahead by checking social media or Journey Planner(external link) before heading out.

* Stormy weather causes slips, trees down, surface flooding around Tasman

* Flights and ferries cancelled, towns cut off as weather causes chaos for transport network

Cyclone Dovi has lashed Auckland with strong winds Tree fallen on St Lukes Rd between Chester Ave and Duncan McLean Link.

Safety protocols require the closure of the bridge to traffic when there are sustained wind gusts of 90kmh or higher.

The Auckland Western Ring Route, on State Highways 16 and 18, remains open, but Waka Kotahi is urging people in the region to delay all non-essential travel.

Cyclone Dovi has lashed Auckland with strong winds Harbour bridge closed

In Wellington SH2 (Western Hutt Rd) is closed to northbound traffic at Melling, south of Melling Link intersection, after a large slip came down across three lanes of the road.

Wellington’s Grays Road, off SH59 Paramata, is closed due to flooding.

The view at Cluny Rd in Plimmerton, Wellington.

In the South Island a large section of SH1 from Kaikōura to Waipara is closed due to slips until further notice, with another update expected at 2pm, according to Waka Kotahi.

A detour is in place via Route 70, the Kaikōura Inland Rd, for light vehicles only.

The slip on State Highway 2 at Melling, Lower Hutt.

MetService has issued heavy rain and wind warnings for several parts of the lower and central North Island, with gale force south-easterlies.

Waka Kotahi advised roads may be closed at short notice to ensure the safety of motorists.

“Waka Kotahi urges all drivers to take extra care when driving in areas affected by the severe weather conditions, avoid unnecessary travel, and to check the latest conditions before driving at journeys.nzta.govt.nz/traffic(external link).”

In Northland wild weather brought down many trees across the region, with over 35 weather-related incidents reported, police said.

The Wairarapa has a number of road closures in place due to slips, water breaking the banks of the Waipoua River and trees down.

A Carterton man needed assistance from emergency services after his car was trapped in deep water flooding on Kokotau Rd at about 3.30am on Sunday, police said.

The man was able to get out of the vehicle and was not injured, and the road is now closed.

Police in Marlborough are reporting surface flooding, tree fall and debris on the roads and urge people to delay travel while clean-up is under way.

Canterbury is experiencing localised flooding with some streets closed.

On the West Coast, SH67 from Mokihinui to Karamea remains closed due to slips but an update is due at 3pm.

SH6 from 8 Mile to Inangahua has reopened but drivers are being warned to drive slowly as surface flooding remains.