Roadworks on State Highway 1 near Mosgiel that began
yesterday are expected to disrupt traffic for another 10-12
days.
New Zealand Transport Agency area manager for coastal Otago
Roger Bailey said new asphalt was being laid on the highway
around the Mosgiel interchange and past the Kinmont Park
suburb.
The first job was to level and seal the off-ramp for vehicles
turning from the highway into Mosgiel.
That should be completed today.
Then tomorrow, "all going well", work should begin on the
southbound lane from about the start of the off-ramp and
stretching for about a kilometre.
The north-bound lane would be next and then the on-ramp from
Mosgiel to the highway.
"It's going to cause a bit of a challenge in terms of
managing the traffic flows," Mr Bailey said.
Detours would be posted.
He suggested local motorists might like to consider their own
alternative route.
"Some may choose to use Three Mile Hill as a better option
for them.
"Some may choose to hop off the motorway at Fairfield and use
the old main road."
The road was being sealed with a "high-strength, open-graded,
porous asphalt" which replaces chip seal.
"It's a highly stressed piece of road and it will hopefully
handle that wear and tear better.
"It will provide a better friction for car tyres," Mr Bailey
said. "It will reduce the amount of spray and hopefully it
will reduce the noise through that area as well."
The area had always been a "relatively sensitive" area for
traffic noise, he said.
"This should be quite a plus for the local residents through
Kinmont."
The new asphalt should also solve the problem of the road
"bleeding" in high temperatures.
"We're not quite in time to stop it doing a wee bit of
bleeding this year but we hope that it'll put that problem to
rest."
The contractor is Downer EDI and the cost of the work is
$450,000.
