UPDATE 10:45 am
State highways are reopening in the top of the South Island following overnight heavy rain and flooding.
Flooding has receded at State Highway 60 Cook’s Corner/Riuwaka River Bridge and the road here is now open.
State Highway 60 between Park Avenue and Central Tākaka Road has reopened following an earlier treefall that brought down powerlines. This section of the highway is under stop/go traffic management, and travel delays can be expected.
State highway 6 is open under a convoy system between Pelorus and Canvastown and is expected to be open to all traffic under a 50 km/h temporary speed limit from around midday.
Meanwhile, State Highway 60 remains closed between Tākaka and Collingwood. Updates on its status can be checked online.
Update 7:50am:
State Highway 6 - Canvastown to Pelorus will remain closed for several more hours this morning because of flood risk – high tide at Pelorus is due around 10am and this is anticipated to keep river and flood levels high in the area.
Current closures:
Localised flooding is also affecting SH60 between Upper Tākaka and Tākaka township, SH 6 Stoke between Quarantine Road and Salisbury Road, SH 6 Wakefield, between Bird Road and Eighty Eight Valley Road, and SH 63 Birch Hill, near the Wye River Bridge.
Access to Moturoa/Rabbit Island is also closed due to flooding across the causeway.
Due to a pipe failure, there is a closure in place on Paru Paru Road which has closed the Trafalgar Centre carpark. This will impact city workers that park in these carparks. Businesses in the area are still open and accessible.
6am:
Ongoing bad weather and heavy rain has seen further state highway closures in the Top of the South overnight.
State Highway 6 closed between Pelorus and Canvastown at 6pm on Monday, however heavy rain has seen more main roads flooded.
Current closures as at 5.30am:
Waimea West Rd and Higgins Rd also closed shortly after 6am Tuesday. Ruby Bay's Stafford Drive is closed around the cliff face.
Drivers should delay their travel and avoid affected areas until highways reopen.
Surface flooding is also reported at SH 6 near Wakefield, SH 6 Stoke, between Quarantine Road and Salisbury Road, and State Highway 63 Birch Hill, near the Wye River Bridge.
Metservice rain warnings have ended, but flood waters will take time to recede.
Top South Now understands that residents in Wakefield and Eighty eight Valley who use Spark, currently have no cell service.
Road users must take care on the roads and drive to the conditions while the bad weather continues.
Please respect all road closures and avoid driving through flooded areas.
