Arthur’s Pass route, SH73, Monday - Westland Anniversary Day closure postponed due to poor weather forecast

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency says that the planned closures advertised for next week on SH73, Arthur’s Pass, will not start until Tuesday at the earliest (5 December).

The road has been advertised to be closed each weekday 10 am to 6 pm for essential re-surfacing for up to two weeks.

“Wet and cold weather is forecast for Monday with conditions improving later next week through Arthur’s Pass. A decision on the rest of the week’s closures  will be made on Monday afternoon,” says Mark Pinner, System Manager for the Transport Agency in the central South Island.

Contingency days are built into the fortnight’s planned closures, so the overall timeframe to 15 December may still be manageable, says Mr Pinner.

The following video shows the route being re-surfaced next week. Frazer Densem, Paving Manager for Fulton Hogan, explains the reasons for the daytime timing: 

People can go onto an email list to be kept updated on any postponements (otira@nzta.govt.nz ), as well as checking the Transport Agency’s South Island social media pages for daily updates for changes to the schedule as well as the traffic and travel/ journeys pages: https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/highway-conditions/west-coast(external link)

• The alternative route linking Canterbury and the West Coast is via the Lewis Pass/Reefton, SH7. It adds around an hour from Greymouth and an hour-and-a-half from Hokitika.

On closure days, West Coasters will need to be at Otira by 10 am if they are heading east on SH73 and back at Arthur’s Pass after 6 pm to get home, says Mr Pinner.

• The route will be open the weekend of 9 and 10 December.
• Arthur’s Pass and Otira townships will be accessible at all times from each side of the Main Divide. People are encouraged to continue to visit.
• The rest of the West Coast remains open for business. Routes north and south along the Coast Road (SH6) are unaffected by this closure.
• Emergency services will be escorted through the SH73 site as required.
• SH73 will be reopened fully each day outside the 10am - 6pm closure.

“Our aim is to ensure that the highway remains safe and fit for purpose for many years to come,” says Mr Pinner. “We want to reduce the potential for more frequent short-term delays in the future due to failures in the road surface. It is now starting to crumble in places. This road is constantly under significant stresses from its grade (16%) and the alpine environment with seasonal weather extremes.”

• Further background and images of the route
• Project page
• You can ask to be sent updates by emailing Otira@nzta.govt.nz

*Distances/ times comparison Arthur’s Pass/Otira versus Lewis Pass, advice for travellers to get to the road block in time:

• SH7 Lewis Pass, Greymouth to Christchurch, 322 km, four hours, 30  minutes in normal traffic.
• SH73 Arthur’s Pass/ Otira Gorge route Greymouth to Christchurch, 245 km, three hours, 30 minutes in normal traffic.
• For Canterbury people aiming to get to the road block at Arthur’s Pass before 10 am each weekday of closure, they need to allow 2.5 hours from Christchurch. (Leave Christchurch by 7.30 am or earlier, depending on weather.)
• For people travelling from Greymouth to the road block point at Otira, they need to allow 1.5 hours from Greymouth to make the trip comfortably before 10 am. (Leave Greymouth by 8.30 am or earlier depending on weather).