A crash or breakdown on the northern motorway or its key feeder roads is never that helpful for anyone, let alone a person trying to get home or to work as planned in heavy traffic.
Wandering stock – both sheep and cattle – continue to create a road hazard for drivers on West Coast and Buller highways. In each of the past two years, there have been more than 70 reports of stock on the region’s state highways.
With the Queenstown Winter Festival in full swing, the area’s highways will be hectic at times, says NZ Transport Agency Journey Manager Graeme Hall. “The Transport Agency has a new tool in Queenstown and Frankton – web cameras - to help people plan their journeys.”
The NZ Transport Agency is reminding rural property owners, particularly in South Canterbury, to ensure their fences are in the best condition to contain their livestock and prevent them wandering onto the region’s roads and highways.
Driving on parts of our highways during the winter months can be treacherous, says NZ Transport Agency Canterbury/ West Coast Journey Manager Lee Wright.
The NZ Transport Agency has funded the installation of a weather station and webcam at Dunedin’s northern motorway’s highest point, the Leith Saddle. The solar-powered station is being maintained by the MetService under a partnership agreement, said Transport Agency Otago/ Southland Journey Manager Graeme Hall.
The NZ Transport Agency is urging people heading away for the long weekend to plan ahead and avoid delays by checking out the Highway Hotspots information for Queen’s Birthday Weekend, available on a new interactive map at www.nzta.govt.nz/hotspots.