State Highway 6 through the Lower Buller Gorge remains closed between Inangahua Junction and Westport due to slips.
Yesterday, Nelson and Westport experienced a large number of flooding incidents as heavy rain hit the region.
Today, New Zealand Transport Agency said it would continue work on assessing and clearing the slips between where State Highway 6 and State Highway 67 meet.
“Multiple slips occurred on the stretch of highway after heavy rain earlier in the week. Motorists are advised to use alternative routes via Reefton, Greymouth and the Great Coast Road.”
“The team has now managed to fully assess the impacts to the road, and have identified a number of large debris flows, scour and rockfall that need to be cleared and made safe.”
At this stage, there has been no damage to the road itself identified, NZTA added.
Fresh watches, warning added
Fresh heavy rain watches and a heavy rain warning have also been issued for parts of the country for Wednesday.
An orange heavy rain warning has been issued for the ranges of Tasman, northwest of Motueka, from 11am to 8pm.
MetService said to expect 70 to 100 mm of rain with peak rates of 15 to 25 mm/h expected late Wednesday afternoon and evening.
“Streams and rivers may rise rapidly. Surface flooding, slips, and difficult driving conditions [are] possible.”
The Brook Waimarama Sanctuary received more rain than the 2022 storm which decimated the Nelson region. (Source: 1News)
The agency advised people in the affected regions to clear their drains and gutters to prepare for heavy rain, while also avoiding low-lying areas and driving carefully.
A heavy rain watch is in place in the Richmond and Bryant ranges and the Rai Valley from 2pm to 10pm tomorrow.
In the Bay of Plenty, a heavy rain watch has been put in place from 10am tomorrow to 4am on Thursday.
“Periods of heavy rain, and amounts may approach warning criteria, especially about the eastern ranges. Rain easing from the west early Thursday morning. Moderate chance of upgrading to a warning.”