With the Queen’s Birthday public holiday long weekend ahead, drivers need to stay safe and plan ahead, particularly if they are driving long distances in freezing, windy or wet conditions.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency advises all people who travel between the West Coast and Canterbury via SH73, (the Arthur’s Pass route), to be prepared for delays this Thursday 28 and Friday 29 May.
People who use the Milford Road, State Highway 94, should plan for possible delays at the single lane Homer Tunnel after Queen’s Birthday weekend, says Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency.
People who drive between the West Coast and Canterbury, via Arthur’s Pass, SH73, should be aware of delays of up to ten minutes at a time, at the Porter River single lane bridge. There will also be six nights with longer closures in June.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency advises drivers to expect short delays on QEII Drive/ State Highway 74, between Innes Road and Burwood Road, over the next week due to road works and road marking.
Work priorities and traffic management have been rearranged on Christchurch’s Southern Motorway Stage 2 project, as around 250 construction crew resume their jobs under Covid-19 Level Three health and safety protocols.
Although COVID-19 has affected how Waka Kotahi does things – across the delivery team, project management, design, property, planning etc, with people continuing to work in small bubbles to meet the new level 3 guidelines, it has not noticeably affected the progress of this bridge project in Otago.
Heavy rain overnight has closed SH6 east of Westport this morning, between Inangahua and Westport, with slips at each end of the Lower Buller Gorge, at Uranium Point and at Inangahua.
Night works on SH60, Takaka Hill, between Riwaka and Takaka, will be starting again from this Sunday evening, 3 May, says Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency.
People who use the Ahaura Bridge north-east of Greymouth overnight will need to take a detour for two nights next week, says Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency.
Otago and Southland road users will see a lot more activity on their highways after Anzac weekend with the lifting of the Covid-19 Level 4 Lockdown and the start of Level 3 safety protocols.
Essential services and workers who use the road between Wanaka and Tarras, State Highway 8A, will need to take a detour route during daytimes from next week, after Easter.
Night closures on two state highways through Marlborough are coming up this weekend, to allow for repairs and maintenance. If it is wet, they will go to a future date.