Travel delays in Kawarau Gorge, Haast Pass

Drivers have been advised to allow extra travel time due to planned resealing on the Kawarau Gorge this week.

NZ Transport Agency Central Otago maintenance contract manager Mark Stewart said measures had been put in place to help ensure there was no repeat of lengthy delays experienced on the stretch of State Highway 6 last month.

The agency issued a statement on February 23 describing the delays that day as ‘‘unacceptable’’, after motorists travelling between Arrowtown and Cromwell were left waiting at least an hour and a-half when the planned road works coincided with the unexpected closure of the Crown Range Rd due to a large, overhanging rock that needed to be cleared.

On the Kawarau Gorge Rd that day the agency was resealing 1.5km of the road at Goldfields and was rock scaling at the Nevis Bluff for two hours.

Mr Stewart said motorists needed to allow for an extra 35 minutes to allow for road sealing.

That was planned to start either today or tomorrow, weather permitting.

The Kawarau Gorge work was expected to be completed by the end of this month.

Motorists travelling between Haast and Makarora have been advised to allow for an extra 20 minutes’ travel time for road sealing.

‘‘The Transport Agency thanks all road users for their patience while the last stages of this important work are finished, and for the safety of roads crews, please take care when driving through work sites and stick to the temporary speed limits,’’ Mr Stewart said.


 

Add a Comment

 

Advertisement