All ferry traffic, trucks, tourists and domestic traffic, is being redirected down the Wairau Valley to Murchison, through SH65 to Springs Junction and over the Lewis Pass to Canterbury. "There’s a lot more traffic noise, and a lot more traffic. With some restrictions on the Lewis Pass, Arthur’s Pass has also been busier than usual. On Monday, Lewis Pass was also closed, leaving Arthur’s Pass as the only available route between Picton and Christchurch. With the Lewis Pass route carrying higher volumes of traffic, people should allow an additional 90 minutes to two hours for the journey between Christchurch and Picton on the Lewis Pass route.

Source: Otago Daily Times November 17, 2016 17:05 UTC