South Island Update
Wednesday June 2nd 9.00am
A big push from the Christchurch Freight Hub last night, along with our linehaul operators utilising a road option that circumvented the flooding and the issue with the bridge on State Highway at Ashburton, we were able to move much of the backlog, both in and out of Christchurch to the Lower South Island branches: Ashburton, Timaru, Oamaru, Dunedin, Invercargill and Central Otago/Queenstown.
The volume of freight is significant in to all of these areas and the branches will work diligently to clear all they can over the next 48 hours, so we do ask that you are patient whilst we do what we can to manage these volumes over this time.
Further updates will be posted when information comes to hand and we thank you for your understanding through these challenging days.
The team at Post Haste Couriers
South Island Flooding and Road Closures Update
Tuesday June 1st 3.00pm
The bridge over the Ashburton River on State Highway 1 has been closed following structural damage from the recent flooding. This will create network issues in both directions for some days to come as we find alternative routes that are open and usable.
We are currently looking at alternative routes to circumvent Ashburton but flooding is still an issue further inland and many roads impassable. There is at present a single passage operational but this could be closed anytime if the volume of traffic crossing bridges upstream of the major rivers intensifies or it is deemed too dangerous, as there is no road lighting on any of these minor roads and travelling during the hours of darkness will be challenging.
We still have a backlog of freight in Christchurch that we are attempting to clear as time and available vehicles permit, but it would be prudent and we would appreciate if you would limit the amount of freight you are sending to the lower South Island to enable us to clear what is already in place and delayed.
We will continue to update progress as we can, but please remember these circumstances are out of our control and we can only do what we are able to, given the conditions that currently prevail.
Thank you for your understanding.
The team at Post Haste Couriers
South Island Flooding and Weather Update
Monday May 31st 3.00pm
Flooding conditions throughout the Canterbury and South Canterbury regions will cause us ongoing service delays for the next few days as effected areas return to normal and flood damage is rectified.
Road freight from the North Island to the Lower South Island regions below Christchurch did not move on Sunday night and there is a strong possibility that nothing will travel south of Christchurch tonight as a state of emergency is still in place as of 3.00pm today.
With this in mind there will be significant volumes of freight backlogged and may not be in place for delivery until Wednesday morning. It would be wise to restrict Lower South Island volumes over the next couple of days and to refrain from moving any perishable or cold chain items until further notice.
Areas mainly effected by the network issues are Ashburton, Timaru, Oamaru, Dunedin, Queenstown, Wanaka, Central Otago, Invercargill and all points between and surrounding these regions. It is equally important to note that we will be unable to move freight out of these regions tonight heading north.
We will continue to update the website with changes as they come to hand but please be patient as we will do all we can to return to normal service schedules.
The team at Post Haste Couriers
Severe Weather Disruptions South Island
Monday May 31st 9.00am
As has been reported over the last 48 hours, heavy rain has fallen throughout the Canterbury and South Canterbury regions causing widespread flooding.
Road closures and access to much of this region has been seriously affected and will result in ongoing delays to service levels until such time as the flooding clears.
Weather conditions are due to improve as Monday progresses, but it may take some time before normal service can be resumed.
Please be patient as we work through the challenges in front of us as we will do all we can to mitigate any service disruptions, once we have clearance to return to full operations.
The team at Post Haste Couriers
