The highway to Haast is closed from Franz Josef due to two slips covering the road with the recent intense heavy rain, said the NZ Transport Agency.

One of the slips will be cleared by midday today closer to Haast with the road open to a single lane at that point. Traffic will then be able to get to Fox Glacier from the south.

The orange MetService warning currently remains in place, with more rain expected from midnight tonight.

The most recent slip occurred overnight on the Fox Hills between the Franz Josef and Fox Glacier townships, said the NZTA. The next update is 5pm today for this slip, with crews working today to clear a single lane.

Maintenance Contract Manager for NZTA on the West Coast Moira Whinham said, “The first slip on SH6 occurred around 6pm Tuesday south of Bruce Bay. Both lanes were covered with material and with darkness and heavy rain falling the decision was made to close the highway overnight and inspect at first light.”

This slip will be cleared enough to open the highway to a single lane from midday today. This will enable traffic to get between Haast and Fox Glacier.

Overnight closure Franz Josef to Haast/Makarora, SH6

“Regardless of our progress on these slips today, SH6 will close between Franz Josef and Haast overnight tonight from 9pm until mid-morning (10am) Thursday, due to high risk of further slips/trees on the road in darkness,” Whinham said, based on the ongoing rain forecasts. 

“It is also possible the closure could go back into Otago as far as Makarora, given overspilling likely to occur later tonight on that side of SH6,” she said.

NZTA advises travellers to review their journeys south of Franz Josef, north of Haast, given the uncertainties with the weather and the possible impact on road conditions.

If conditions deteriorate during the day, the highway may close earlier than 9pm.

Keep up-to-date on the West Coast road closures here.