The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) says a temporary single lane road it is building to skirt around a massive slip on the Milford Road between Falls Creek and Monkey Creek should open later tomorrow, Thursday 18 October 2012.
This section of the Milford Road has been closed by a massive slip last Friday night.
NZTA Area Manager Peter Robinson says forming a single lane road around the slip has the advantages of allowing clearing work to continue at the site and safely keeping traffic moving.
“Because the new road is further away from the slip, there is a greater safety area between traffic and the work site. Having this buffer means there is less likelihood of the temporary road being closed by debris that may fall if there is any further movement in the slip.”
Mr Robinson says the forecast rain in the area had not been as heavy as predicted allowing workers to return to the site sooner than expected. Large earth moving equipment is making good progress on clearing slip debris and on forming the new temporary road.
An estimated 2,000m3 of debris have been removed from the slip site so far and 500kg of explosive used to blast away rocks, some weighing up 500 tonne.
A further update on when the road will open should be available after 1pm tomorrow Thursday, 18 October. The latest information on the slip is available at www.highwayinfo.govt.nz(external link).
The NZ Transport Agency works to create transport solutions for all New Zealanders – from helping new drivers earn their licences, to leading safety campaigns to investing in public transport, state highways and local roads. Follow us on twitter @nzta_news.
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