Long term solution to historic slip on SH85, means a month-long closure

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People who normally travel to Central Otago, Dunedin or Oamaru via SH85, commonly known as the Pigroot, will have a detour from the end of August for up to a month.

Update 29 August 2022: 

  • Light vehicles: can use the detour
  • 50Max: can use the detour
  • HPMV Higher Mass: cannot use the detour, you will need to travel via SH1 and SH87 through Dunedin and Mosgiel
  • Overweight: refer to your permit
  • Over Dimension: All OD operators please contact NOC (Jake 027 443 2075) prior to travel. Hyde-Macraes Bridge – axle width restriction is 3.6m, railing height is 1.1m

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency’s Highway Highlanders maintenance team will be installing three drainage trenches under an area of highway which has been prone to slips for many decades.

“In order to install the drains, the highway has to be excavated and the safety barrier removed temporarily. These drains will discharge into a trench in the nearby gully to stop the groundwater undermining the highway at this spot,” says Jennifer McLean, Maintenance Contract Manager for Waka Kotahi.

SH85 connects Kyeburn and Palmerston.

The work site on SH85 is between Morrisons and Kyeburn near the Gold Fields Plaque carpark.  Work is planned to start Monday, 29 August from 8 am and be completed by Monday, 26 September, 5pm, however these dates and times are subject to weather, so could change.

The area of highway which is getting a longer-lasting drainage treatment from late August through September.

Detour for light vehicles (cars, vans)

Car drivers will be detoured from SH85 at Waynes, near Dunback, via Macraes Road, Hyde-Macraes Road and SH87 to Kyeburn, and the reverse. This detour adds around 30 minutes to the journey.

Residents, landowners and businesses within the closure site will retain access to their properties from either end of the closure up to the work site.

The detour is NOT suitable for HPMV Higher Mass vehicles (due to weight restrictions on the Hyde-Macraes Road Bridge).  

HPMV Higher Mass detour

HPMV Higher Mass vehicles will need to detour via SH1 and SH87 through Dunedin and Mosgiel.

Detour route for all other vehicles and work site north of Morrisons.

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