[ad_1]
Lee Harris / Supplied
State Highway 6 was closed Wednesday night after heavy rains caused rocks and trees to fall onto the highway near the Fox River.
The west coast coastal highway will remain closed until at least 5 p.m. after heavy rains caused a slip.
Waha Kotahi / New Zealand Transportation Agency said State Highway 6 was closed north of the Fox River after rocks and trees fell onto the road around 11.30pm on Wednesday.
NZTA senior network manager Colin Hey said the contractors were cleaning up the material and were aiming to open a single lane by 5 p.m. Thursday.
“In the meantime, drivers should use SH6, 69 and 7 from South Westport through Inangahua and Reefton to Greymouth and back the other way,” he said.
The detour, through the Buller Gorge, added at least 30 minutes to the trip between Greymouth and Westport.
“Thank you all for taking your time on the Reefton Expressway, which will have more traffic until we reopen SH6.”
Some rains were forecast on the west coast on Thursday but were expected to subside overnight.
Rains were also expected in Christchurch on Thursday, along with breezes from the west and a high of 21 degrees Celsius.
