The NZ Transport Agency this week had a scheduled three day, daytime closure from Monday to Wednesday in order to stabilise a rock face north of Kaikōura at Ōhau Point.
Unfortunately weather conditions have meant the last part of this work, grouting the rock anchors into the cliff face, was unable to be finished in the road closure time.
Because this work cannot be completed safely with vehicles on the highway beneath the rock face, an extra day closure is required on Monday, 13 August.
“Over the past few days we have been plagued by sea mist and strong winds which has made the progress difficult, ” says Tresca Forrester, Network Operations Manager for the North Canterbury Transport Infrastructure Recovery (NCTIR) alliance.
“Crews drilled the holes needed but were unable to install one of the rock anchors and grout them to cement them in place,” she says.
As a result, State Highway 1 between Clarence and Mangamaunu will be closed on Monday 13 August from 8am to 4pm.
During this time any people travelling between Picton and Christchurch will need to take the Lewis Pass/ Murchison route.
Abseilers drilling the rock anchor into the Ōhau Point rock face.
“We understand that this extra day’s closure will have an impact on the community, the freight industry and all road users. We are all committed to getting this highway safely rebuilt and making the coastline as safe and resilient as possible,” Ms Forrester says.
