The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) will carry out $1.1 million dollars worth of rock stabilising work from 11 March, to further improve road user safety at the Nevis Bluff on State Highway 6 about midway between Cromwell and Queenstown.
This work is part of NZTA’s on-going Nevis Bluff programme and is scheduled for completion by 31 May 2013.
NZTA Central Otago Area Manager John Jarvis says we have identified two areas of unstable rock as posing a potential hazard to road users and are moving to stabilise these before they become a greater risk.
One area about 160m above the road will be partially removed by drilling and blasting, with the remainder of the material rock bolted. The other area will be removed by drilling and blasting.
For the safety of road users, traffic delays can be expected between 8:00am and 5:00pm from Monday to Friday until the work is finished. Most of these delays should be less than 20 minutes. However Mr Jarvis said there will be up to 1 hour closures from time-to-time for blasting work. At this stage around 8-10 blasts are expected over the 12 week work programme and road users will be given as much advance notice about these as possible.
There will be road openings on the hour every hour Monday to Friday so motorists can plan their travel to connect with a road opening. The Nevis Bluff is around 20 minutes drive from Cromwell and about 30 minutes from Queenstown.
Between the hourly openings we will clear traffic approximately every 20 minutes and we are working closely with our contractor to keep traffic delays to a minimum. Mr Jarvis said.
The latest information about traffic delays at this site will be available at www.highwayinfo.govt,nz(external link) or by phoning 0800 444449.
