The NZ Transport Agency is advising people to allow extra time for journeys on SH6 between Cromwell and Queenstown as rock stabilisation work at Nevis Bluff gets underway next week.
The work, scheduled to take place for five weeks from Monday 30 October to Friday 1 December, is part of on-going safety and monitoring of the Nevis Bluff, involving abseil inspection, rock scaling and blasting to remove loose debris and unstable rock, following changes as a result of winter weather effects.
People using the section of SH6 between Cromwell and Queenstown are advised to build in extra time of about 10 minutes on their journeys as delays will be inevitable while the work is carried out, says John Jarvis, Senior Network Manager, NZ Transport Agency.
'We know these delays can be frustrating, but we’re asking people to be patient and to understand that they are necessary to ensure the safety of road users, which is our number one concern.'
The work will be carried out between 8am and 5pm on weekdays, subject to weather conditions.
Mr Jarvis says there will also be two or three days where closures of up to an hour will be necessary for blasting work. It is anticipated that these will be occurring around mid-November. Road users will be given as much advance notice about the blast closure days and times as possible.
The Nevis Bluff is about half way between Cromwell and Queenstown – 25 minutes from Cromwell, 35 minutes from Queenstown.
The Transport Agency thanks everyone for their patience and for taking care while this important safety work is completed leading into winter.
