Forecast heavy rain for the West Coast and Main Divide arrived as predicted on Sunday night and brought down slips further along SH6 to Haast, and flooded the coastal highway, further north.
Contractors closed SH6 about midday yesterday at Pipson Creek when floodwaters submerged the road and bridge, about 1km north of Makarora.
The remote mountain valley township recorded 84mm of rain in the 24 hours to 4pm, yesterday, according to the Otago Regional Council's water information website - only 6mm away from activating a first landslip monitoring warning.
Makarora Civil Defence co-ordinator David Howe said the creek had overflowed its banks about 11.30am.
The main link to the West Coast was closed shortly after 1pm, he said.
Contractors had been working with diggers to clear flood debris and material from the Pipson Creek bridge, he said.
A New Zealand Transport Agency spokesperson said the rain had also caused surface flooding at Millionaires Flat, further towards the Haast Pass, and flowing water had damaged sections of the road seal on SH6.
Contractors were working to reopen the road, but any reopening would depend on the heavy rain easing.
The situation would be reassessed at 8am today.
The weather also caused a landslip at Pivot Creek, further along SH6 towards Haast, which reduced the road to one lane.
Motorists travelling between Ross and Franz Josef were urged to exercise extreme caution because of surface flooding.
Heavy rain also fell around Wanaka and Hawea, with about 26mm recorded in the 24 hours to 4pm yesterday.
