The road to Milford Sound/Piopiotahi remains closed due to high avalanche risk, which has been further triggered by heavy rain.
Slips over the aptly named Avalanche Creek. Photo: Waka Kotahi
State Highway 94 has been closed from the Hollyford Road to Milford Sound since last Thursday, with snowfall affecting travel in the area before then.
Waka Kotahi Milford Road Alliance manager Kevin Thompson said a number of large, natural avalanches had come down over the road over the weekend.
The storm cycle over the last week had brought heavy, warm rainfall to the avalanche start zones, which had triggered more activity.
"Currently we have large, natural avalanches occurring in a number of places. Given the low cloud and continuing rainfall, which is triggering avalanche material from high up the slopes, we cannot safely get crews in to clear the road yet."
Machinery was needed to clear the material, but low cloud and rain meant crews were unable to safely clear the road.
The upper slopes had been assessed from a helicopter on Monday in order to ascertain how safe it was for crews to get into the area.
Further assessment on Monday afternoon was likely to result in an opening timeline.
"We appreciate that many of the businesses that operate in the Sound are inconvenienced by the current closure. We will clear the avalanche material and get the road reopened, possibly for convoys during daylight hours in the first instance, as soon as it is safe to do so."
