Flooding Recedes Slowly

Marlborough flooding recedes slowly but many roads still closed

Roads around Marlborough remain closed today with rain continuing and river levels receding only slowly.

Caution is advised for all traffic on State Highway One between Clarence and Kaikoura where flooding has occurred.

Road access is now possible to Waihopai Valley properties in Tyntesfield Road after the area was cut off by floodwaters for 24 hours. Para Road and Speeds Road, between Blenheim and Picton, have reopened and the Awatere Valley Road is open again.

However at about a dozen other points, between Blenheim and Renwick, to the east of Blenheim and in Seddon, water has not receded sufficiently to re-open the roads yet.

In Queen Charlotte Drive, at Mahakipawa, and in the Awatere Valley slips have reduced traffic to one lane.

No significant rain has fallen since midnight at the headwaters of the Omaka or Taylor Rivers but there is no indication yet as to how long it is likely to take for flooded fords to clear.

Marlborough District Council staff are monitoring the river levels and watching the weather as more rain is forecast for tonight.

Council Assets and Services manager Mark Wheeler is warning drivers not to attempt to cross flooded fords.

Dips in the road can be deceptive and water levels in the fords can be deeper than they look, he said.

Mr Wheeler also warns that, where floodwaters are still covering the road, it’s impossible to know whether there has been damage to road surfaces.

Position at 8.30 am Thursday 2 August 2012

Roads that have been reopened:

• Tyntesfield Road
• Para Road
• Speeds Road
• Awatere Valley Road

 

Roads that are closed:

• Old Renwick Road CLOSED between Pak Lims and St Leonards Road
• Jacksons Road between Old Renwick Road to SH62 - CLOSED
• Hammerichs Road - CLOSED
• Thompsons Ford Road - CLOSED
• Taylor Pass Road – CLOSED between Maxwell Pass Road and the Awatere Valley Road
• Brookby Road - CLOSED
• Ward Beach Road - flooding at Needles Creek Ford - CLOSED
• Vickerman Street - Roses Overflow - CLOSED
• Morgans Road - CLOSED
• Reserve Road, Seddon - CLOSED
• Foster Street, Seddon - CLOSED

 

Extreme caution required:

• Queen Charlotte Drive at Mahikipawa (The Wedge) – slip and slump. ROAD DOWN TO ONE LANE
• Camerons Road - 4WD ONLY
• Awatere Valley Road - 40 km from SH1 ROAD DOWN TO ONE LANE due to a slip

 

Other:

• Starborough Underpass, SEDDON – CLOSED to pedestrians
• Beaver Road Footbridge - CLOSED

 

State Highway 1

• SH1 Clarence to Kaikoura - FLOODING CAUTION ISSUED