The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) is about to start work to refine the traffic signals on the State highway 6 Kawarau Falls Bridge near Queenstown to improve traffic flows on this busy single lane bridge.
Motorists can expect some minor disruption while this work, weather permitting, is carried tomorrow, Thursday 21 March.
NZTA Central Otago Area Manager John Jarvis says the work costing about $10,000 is being done now so it’s completed in time for the busy Easter holiday period next week. The job including installing a larger traffic detector loop at the southern end of the bridge, gives us greater flexibility to easily change signal phase times to meet traffic demand.
“We believe the existing traffic delays at the bridge have been mainly caused by motorists being too far behind vehicles in front of them, and drivers too slow to react to the green light and missing the opportunity to cross the bridge. This causes hold-ups and frustration for the drivers behind these vehicles.”
John Jarvis said we expect the larger traffic detector loop being installed will largely resolve existing traffic flow problems at the bridge, especially at busy times of the year such as Christmas-New Year and at the height of ski season. While we aren’t expecting any major issues with this job the performance of the new signal system will be closely monitored.
The good news with this new equipment is that it’s far easier to modify traffic signal phases if this is necessary he said.
