A slip on State Highway 6 between Hira and Rai Valley has closed the main route between Nelson and Blenheim this morning.
New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) said a slip and rockfalls was reported shortly before 5am, forcing the closure of State Highway 6 north of Nelson, between Hira and Whangamoa.
“The only available detour is via State Highway 63 St Arnaud and the Wairau Valley.
“This adds around 40 minutes to travel time between Blenheim and Nelson and about an extra hour if travelling to or from the Rai Valley,” it said.
In an update shortly before 9.30am, NZTA said material had continued to fall at the slip site on the Whangamoa Hill and urged drivers to avoid the area.
NZTA said contractors were managing the incident and “working hard to reopen the road”.
At this stage there was no estimate of when the highway would reopen.
