A rockfall (pictured below) near Orman Falls between Haast and Makarora in the Haast Pass closed the highway after 8 am today, says NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA).

“An excavator is on the way to site now to clear the rockfall,” says Moira Whinham, Maintenance Contract Manager for NZTA on the West Coast.

The next update on SH6 through South Westland will be at 4pm today.

Drivers are advised to delay or postpone their journeys today – there is no alternative direct route connecting the West Coast and Otago.

The longer route between the West Coast and Queenstown Lakes District would be via SH73 (Arthur’s Pass, where there are also daytime delays currently 9 am to 5 pm) and the Canterbury and Otago highways.

Updates: https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/highway-conditions/otago/closures/481762

Plan ahead for a safe, enjoyable journey. Keep up to date with:

• Traffic updates: journeys.nzta.govt.nz/traffic
• Facebook Canterbury & West Coast: https://www.facebook.com/nztacwc/
• Facebook Otago & Southland: https://www.facebook.com/nztaos/
• X NZTA: https://x.com/nztamain
• X Canterbury & West Coast: https://x.com/nztacwc
• X Otago & Southland: https://x.com/nztaos
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• Journey planner: journeys.nzta.govt.nz
• Phone: 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49)

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