Crown Range travel slow after two-car crash

UPDATED 2.45PM

The Crown Range Road has reopened in both directions with a temporary speed restriction in place this afternoon.

Motorists were earlier asked to avoid the alpine highway following a crash this morning.

Police say the crash involved two vehicles and was reported at 8.25am.

Two people were injured – one moderately, one seriously.

The Queenstown Lakes District Council has advised the road is now open to traffic from both directions with a temporary 50-kilometres-an-hour speed limit in place through the affected area between Eastburn Road on the Whakatipu side of the range and the gates just south of the Cardrona township on the Wānaka side.

A spokesperson for Fire and Emergency New Zealand says it had crews in attendance.

They worked to remove two people from vehicles and then remained at the scene, close to the number one river bridge, cleaning up.

Sand needed to be spread on the road to mop up spilt oil and fuel.

An alternative route between Wānaka and Queenstown is via State Highway Six, the Kawarau Gorge and Cromwell.