23 Jul 2009

Wild weather closes roads in Wellington region

10:17 pm on 23 July 2009

Bad weather has caused disruption for motorists, with some roads closed in the Wellington region on Thursday night.

Police are urging drivers to take extra care on the roads as heavy rain and high winds lash the region.

Visibility is poor and motorists are warned to check their following distance and drive to the conditions.

At 10pm, traffic was still down to one lane on State Highway 1 at Pukerua Bay, north of Wellington, while contractors deal with a large slip.

Inspector Mike Coleman, of Central Police Communications, says surface flooding is continuing to hamper conditions at nearby Paramata and Plimmerton.

But State Highway 58, between Pauatahanui and Haywards Hill, remains closed on Thursday night due to a large slip.

In the Hutt Valley, surface flooding at Silverstream, Manor Park and Melling is continuing to make driving conditions difficult - although State Highway 2 there is open.

The Rimutaka Hill Road linking Wellington and Wairarapa has reopened after slips caused problems earlier, but a high wind warning remains in place.

The Fire Service says it has been inundated with calls on Thursday after the rain cause flooding mainly in Porirua and the Hutt Valley.