Given poor weather forecast for the Otira Gorge early next week, the re-surfacing of SH73 is postponed for the first two days – Monday and Tuesday.
“Work will re-start Wednesday at the earliest,” says Mark Pinner, System Manager for NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) for the Central South Island.
Drivers will have 24/7 access to the Otira Gorge from 6 pm Friday night (8 December) through to Wednesday morning at the earliest, 10 am.
Work planned for the remainder of the week after Tuesday will be confirmed on Tuesday, 12 December.
The highway has been closed four days this week 10 am to 6 pm (including today Friday) for essential re-surfacing, with good progress made. (See photo below)
There will be traffic management through the work site over this weekend and until the crews re-start, says Mr Pinner. Short delays for travellers should be expected.
NZTA thanks all road users and regular commuters for their patience while this key piece of highway re-surfacing is completed.
Work underway Thursday this week:
For more details on this work, the reasons for the highway closures daytimes and the alternative route travel times via the Lewis Pass, SH7: https://www.nzta.govt.nz/media-releases/arthurs-pass-route-sh73-closing-tomorrow-10-am-to-6-pm/(external link)
