Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency will be reducing State Highway 8, inland from Milton at the western end of the Manuka Gorge, the gateway to Central Otago, to one lane next week. The highway shoulder will be repaired.
Work will start near the crest of Round Hill on SH8 the week starting 12 October, 17 kilometres inland from Milton. It requires the installation of steel piles to reinstate the highway’s shoulder/edge support, after it was identified that the gabion baskets supporting the shoulder were rotating and failing. (See two photos of the site below.)
Traffic signals will be used to control the single lane traffic past the work site, says Waka Kotahi Senior Network Manager Chris Harris. “These signals will operate 24/7 until the shoulder is reinstated and two lanes are restored, likely to be in late November.
“People using this section of highway may experience minor delays and should allow extra time for their journey,” he says. “For their own safety and that of the road works team, we ask that people travel through this work site at the temporary speed limits.”
Two lanes will be reinstated between Thursday and Monday (22 to 26 October) over Labour Weekend to accommodate holiday traffic travelling to Central Otago. After Labour Weekend, the team will return to the site to complete the remaining piling work and reinstate the roadside barrier.
The construction work is costing around $300,000 and is being overseen by the Highway Highlanders on behalf of Waka Kotahi.
Waka Kotahi thanks everyone for being patient and taking care while this important piece of work on SH8 is safely completed ahead of the summer holidays.
The Manuka Gorge, Round Hill, work site.
For updates on this repair project:
https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/traffic/regions/13 (external link)
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