Heavy rain forecast closes SH94 Milford Road

State Highway 94 Milford Road will close to all traffic at 7pm tonight and remain closed all day tomorrow (Wednesday 9 January) because of heavy rain forecast in the area during the next 24 hours.

The road has been closed each night between the Homer Tunnel and Murrell’s Bridge from 7pm to 7am since the end of November because of safety concerns with rock fall risks in the area.

The NZ Transport Agency’s Southland State Highway Operations Manager Peter Robinson says the closure is a precautionary measure. “The heavy rain that has been forecast is for tomorrow only; we expect the road to open again on Thursday and to remain open for the remainder of the week, with only showers forecast.”

He says the opening time on Thursday will depend on weather conditions in the morning and motorists are advised to check the NZTA website.

The nightly closures of Milford Road are expected to continue through to the end of January as NZTA works to manage rock fall risks in the area.

The NZTA has been working closely with local tourist operators to minimise the impact of the closures during what is the peak tourist season. “The safety of road users is always our top priority,” Mr Robinson says.