Five-week detour on way at Wānaka roundabout

The Cromwell inbound lane that will be closed from the Cardrona River bridge through to the...
The Cromwell inbound lane that will be closed from the Cardrona River bridge through to the roundabout from Monday, February 19. Photo: NZTA
A detour will be in place for up to five weeks as work to complete a key Wānaka roundabout is carried out.

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi said today its Fulton Hogan team had "the finish line in view" for the new Mt Iron roundabout, at the entrance to Wānaka, near Albert Town.

The agency said a detour would be in place from Monday, February 19, possibly through to March 22.

The roundabout is at the intersection of Riverbank Rd (State Highway 6, two legs of the roundabout) and SH84, the Wānaka-Luggate highway.

Image: NZTA
Image: NZTA
After one recent detour to complete the Riverbank Rd leg, a second detour period was needed to complete the Cromwell/Luggate leg, said Robert Choveaux, System Manager, Lower South Island for NZTA.

"What this means is that drivers travelling towards Mt Iron from Luggate or Cromwell will face a detour, which will add to their travel time. Just one direction of traffic on one access route will be affected.

“Anyone travelling towards the roundabout and Mt Iron from the other access points - Wānaka, Albert Town/ Hāwea/the West Coast, or Queenstown won’t be affected,” Mr Choveaux said. 

From February 19, the intersection of SH6 and the Cromwell/Luggate inbound lane (ie traffic coming from Cromwell or Luggate towards Mt Iron) will close for up to five weeks. Local residents will have access up to the Cardrona River Bridge, where the work site starts.

“If you’re coming towards Wānaka from Luggate or Cromwell for the Wānaka Show on 8 and 9 March – Friday and Saturday – please build the extra time into your journey,” Mr Choveaux said.

All going well, the roundabout should be fully completed in April, he said.