The following is a notification from NZTA:
Following Monday’s earthquake and the closure of State Highway 1 because of slips and damage to the highway, many operators are asking about freight vehicle access through Lewis Pass (State Highway 7).
To help with these queries, the following vehicles can travel on SH7:
• All permitted 50MAX vehicles
• All vehicles that are HPMV-permitted for travel on State Highway 1
• Area overweight-permitted vehicles carrying machinery
These vehicles must travel on SH7 to Springs Junction, on SH65 to Murchison and SH6 to Nelson or turn off at Kawatiri onto SH63 to Renwick, onto SH6 and into Rapaura Road (SH62) to join SH1 to Picton at Spring Creek. Freight vehicles are asked to not travel via SH6 through Woodbourne and into Blenheim to join SH1.
The NZ Transport Agency has put in place a number of speed restrictions and restricted access to single-lane across some bridges to enable the route to be opened up to full HPMV following the earthquake and closure of SH1. It is critical that everyone observes the various traffic management restrictions in place.
With higher volumes of traffic and route restrictions on SH7, we are asking everyone to take extra care, be patient and courteous when travelling along the route, and allow extra time for their journey. Average journey times between Christchurch and Picton are currently expected to take seven and a half hours.
We are currently working on the logistics of over-dimension vehicle use of SH7 and will ensure we keep you updated with any further changes.
If you have any specific queries regarding route access, please contact the Permitting team on 0800 699 000 or email applyhpmv@nzta.govt.nz.