Race to get flood-hit roads open

Work continues on roads closed because of flooding in the Waitaki Valley and Waimate District, with hopes they will reopen by the weekend.

State Highway 82, between Kurow and Ikawai, was closed after water gouged out and collapsed the road on Sunday. Flooding at a bridge over a creek near Parsons Rd also closed SH83 between Otematata and Aviemore.

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency spokesman Graeme Hall said ‘‘work is progressing well at both of these sites, and we’re aiming to have both roads re-opened by the weekend’’.

‘‘The damage on SH83 will require reconstruction of the roadway approaching the Parsons Creek Bridge near Otematata, and while there is some rain in the forecast over the next few days we’ll be pulling out all the stops to get the job done before the weekend,’’ Hall said.

There was also a rockfall on the detour route for the closed section of SH83 on Tuesday night.

A Waimate District Council spokesperson said the council received reports of a rockfall on the detour route on Te Akatarawa Rd at 10pm on Tuesday, with contractors arriving a short time after to clear the road.

‘‘All council roads throughout the Waimate District are clear and open, with the one exception being Parkers Bush Rd [up to the White Horse], which remains closed.

‘‘In addition, all fords also remain closed until further notice,’’ the spokesperson said.

On Sunday a car trying to cross a ford in Waimate was washed away, the occupants escaping to shore while their vehicle floated away.

A number of sites on the state highway network also have speed restrictions where flood repairs are being carried out.