The Lewis Pass, SH7, linking the West Coast and Canterbury via Springs Junction and Reefton is closing overnight in just over a week’s time, for road marking, says Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency.
The four nights for road-paint marking are Monday, 9 October to Thursday night/ Friday morning, 12/13 October, 10 pm to 6 am.
Given this is a key freight route between the two regions, there will be a 1 am to 1.30 am opening each of the four nights to clear urgent traffic, says Moira Whinham, Maintenance Contract Manager for Waka Kotahi on the West Coast.
“This work is weather dependent so if it is wet that week, it may be pushed into the next available week,” she says. “Other high-risk maintenance work will also be done at the same time while there is no traffic on the highway.”
Drivers can also use: SH69 to Inangahua from Reefton, then SH6 through the Upper Buller Gorge onto SH65 the Shenandoah highway, back to Springs Junction for east-bound journeys. Reverse order for west-bound.
“Thanks to everyone who will be inconvenienced by this work and for planning around it,” says Miss Whinham. “The highway electronic signs will advertise the closures at each end so regular drivers will have plenty of warning.”
