Ice chaos on South Island roads

Black ice on the roads is causing trouble for motorists. Photo / Otago Daily Times

Black ice is causing chaos on roads across the South Island this morning.

Southern District Police is warning drivers in the Central Otago Lakes area to take care as hard frosts throughout the district left roads treacherous to drive on.

Police said there had already been a number of crashes and some roads had delays while vehicles were being cleared.

State Highway 6 at Spooners Range, south of Nelson has been closed due to severe ice.

Emergency services were currently attending a motorcycle crash in the area. A driver had a lucky escape after losing control on black ice and plunging six metres down a bank in the Motueka Valley.

Queenstown motorists were being advised to delay travel until later in the morning when roads had thawed.

The Wakatipu Basin was largely effected with large areas of black ice appeared at daybreak.

Roading contractors had laid grit on all shaded areas including Wilsons Bay, Bobs Cove, Arthurs Point and Malaghans Rd.

The Crown Range Road was also very icy right through to the Cardrona Valley Rd.

Police said winter conditions were in full effect and ice was likely across the region.
Motorists were warned to watch the usual trouble spots, beware of grit and ice, keep speeds and following distances down and drive with care.