Work on improving safety at the State Highway 6 - Peninsula Road intersection near Queenstown gets underway today.
The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) project involves the vertical and horizontal realignment of both the State Highway, and Peninsula Road. Works on the highway will involve lifting the intersection and cutting down the crest to the South, while works on Peninsula Road will be the realignment of the approach to the highway – removing the S-bend.
NZTA Otago-Southland State Highways Manager Niclas Johansson says the improved sight distances will make this intersection safer for road users, and remove the potential risk posed by heavy vehicles crossing the centreline while travelling down Peninsula Road.
“All road users, both locals and tourists will welcome these safety improvements at what can be a busy section of road. The new intersection has been designed so it can safely accommodate future growth on the peninsula including the Kawarau Falls Station development and any further residential growth”.
Mr Johansson said construction work will start after winter to avoid unsuitable weather conditions and disrupting traffic going to and from the Remarkables Ski Field. The project should be completed by December 2010. Some minor off-road earthworks will be carried out over the next week or two
The NZTA will incorporate as much of the established community planted landscaping at the current intersection as it can into the new intersection. Further landscape planting, designed in consultation with the Kelvin Peninsula Community will be carried out once construction work ends. Although a state highway project, NZTA acknowledges contributions from the Queenstown Lakes District Council and the developers of the Kawarau Falls Station development.
