Cars slide off highway

Press, 2 July 1983, Page 1

Cars slide off highway

A grader had to tow about 15 cars and a truck and trailer unit which slithered off the snowcovered Akaroa highway at Hilltop yesterday morning. In Christchurch, shoppers wrapped themselves in their warmest winter clothing to brave temperatures which hovered about 4deg. for most of the day, with 35knot southerly winds creating a wind-chill factor of —Bdeg. at times. Snow blown before biting south-westerly winds piled up in drifts 60cm deep on exposed parts of Banks Peninsula. About Bcm of snow lay on the Summit Road, which was closed between the Sign of the Kiwi and Mount Pleasant Road after the snow turned to ice. By 9 a.m. a number of vehicles had slid off the crown of the road at Hilltop, and had to be towed to safety by a grader which had been clearing the road. All roads on the Peninsula were open last evening, but motorists should avoid using them after dark because of the danger of sludge turning to ice, said a

spokesman for the Automobile Association (Canterbury). The Lewis Pass was clear last evening, but care was essential on the Arthur’s Pass highway, between Porters Pass and Cass, because of snow. State highway 8 over the Lindis Pass in Central Otago was open, but chains were essential. Motorists heading south to Dunedin for the rugby test today were likely to encounter treacherous conditions on State highway 1, just north of the city, the Automobile Association said. “We would suggest that prudent rugby fans carry chains,” said a spokesman. Widespread snow and ice disrupted traffic throughout Otago yesterday morning. Many roads which had already been affected by snow had to be closed after freezing temperatures overnight. State highway 87 between Outram and Middlemarch is still closed, as is the Three Mile Hill road between Dunedin and Mosgiel, and State highway 94 between Te Anau and Milford.