Locals will be able to travel on SH6 to Haast, Knight’s Point and beyond from tomorrow morning (November 22) at 10am.

The section of SH6 between Haast and Lake Moeraki has been closed since November 9 after record-breaking rain led to flooding, slips and rockfalls, Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) system manager Mark Pinner said.

The closure of a section of key highway (SH6 runs all the way from the top of the South Island to Invercargill) is “never convenient…and the start of the summer tourism season was particularly unwelcome this year,” he said.

However, all safety-critical rock blasting and scaling north of Haast at the Epitaph Slip is now complete, he said.

“The rock scaling and explosives team has been working continually since Monday last week to make this site safe for it to reopen,” Mark said.

“As well as removing rocks which directly threatened the highway, using air bags, explosives and helicopter sluicing, they have also tackled a number of other unstable rock faces around this section of highway, with more to come to provide some future-proofing.”

Mark said there has been minimal movement at the site since recording began on November 9. 

There will still be some stop/go traffic management over the coming weeks, Mark said.

Additional safety features are being installed including movement sensors in the ground that are linked to warning lights. If movement is detected they will automatically warn drivers to stop as a hazard is present.  

The highway will also close overnight for the time being from 9pm through to 7am, while NZTA gains more assurance of slope stability.

“Thanks to all drivers for building in extra time over the next few weeks between Lake Moeraki and Haast,” Mark said. 

In the future more sizable blasting work will also require road closures for part of some days, with details to be confirmed soon, he said.

If there is further heavy rain, NZTA may close the road as a precaution.

PHOTO: NZTA