Crews work to reopen road

The road between Blenheim and Nelson may reopen by the end of today.

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency say crews have been out since first light and it is hoped it will be possible to clear SH6 of debris and slips.

State Highway 1 including the Wairau River bridge is expected to re-open from midday. All evacuated residents from Tuamarina, Spring Creek and the Lower Wairau can return to their homes from midday.

SH6 between Renwick and Havelock is not expected to open until mid-afternoon at the earliest.

SH63 is not expected to re-open for some days. Many local roads are still closed.

Journey Manager Tresca Forrester says crews have been out since first light assessing road damage, inspecting bridges and clearing debris from blocked and flooded highways.

Tresca says all available resource is being applied to re-open closed roads as quickly as possible.

“Contractors are aiming to re-open SH1 by midday and we expect to re-open a route through to Nelson by the end of the day via SH6 and SH65. We are also assessing flood damage on SH7 north of Hanmer this morning which completes this critical link.”

But as the full scale of the damage caused by the massive floods is known it’s too early to say with certainty when other closed roads will re-open, she says.

She is also urging anyone driving in the region to take extra care and be aware that they are likely to encounter surface water and debris on some re-opened roads, with many operating with lane restrictions or under temporary lower speed limits.

“With the massive rainfall we’ve just experienced, many areas will remain highly susceptible to slips, or to further flooding if the rain returns. Please keep safe and take extra care out on the roads today.”

Helicopters and on the ground crews have been inspecting roads across the region which have been closed amid safety fears.

Tresca has paif tribute to the contractors working hatd to clear the road.

She says while they can't yet say for sure the Blenheim to Nelson road will open that is what they are aiming for.

"In a flooding event the first thing we do is go through and secure road closures, out crews are very passionatte abouy connecting local communties again."

Almost 1000 people were forced to flee their homes last night as evacuations got underway in lower Renwick, Rapauara, Tua Marina and Springcreek.

Residents face an anxious return home to see what affects the flood waters have had on their houses.

Evacuees are being reunited with vehicles stranded along SH1 between Picton and Blenheim. Stranded vehicles will also be removed by Police if the owner cannot be located or the vehicle is damaged.

A state of local emergency was declared at 12.20pm yesterday by Marlborough’s Deputy Mayor Nadine Taylor.

The following roads remain closed:

• SH1 Picton to Spring Creek - Flooding
• SH6 Renwick to Rai Valley – Flooding and slips
• SH6 Motupiko to Kohatu - Flooding
• SH6 Inangahua to Westport - High river levels
• SH6 Murchsion to Inangahua - Flooding
• SH63 Renwick to St Arnaud - Flooding
• SH65 Shenandoah to SH6 - Flooding and slips
• SH7 Hanmer Turnoff to Springs Junction (Lewis Pass) - Slip
• SH7 Springs Junction to Reefton – Slip