New opening times for Takaka Hill

Takaka Hill will be open to travel on Sunday for escorted convoys from 8am to 5pm.

The road – State Highway 60 – was damaged in the aftermath of ex-cyclone Gita and is currently only open twice each day, from 7-8am and 5-6pm.

NZTA said those two times for escorted convoys, Monday to Friday, would now expand to include Saturdays.

‘‘Crews are making good progress removing landslide material but there is substantial work to do at a number of sites which will ensure this road has restricted access for some weeks to come,’’ NZTA’s Frank Porter said.

People are reporting long queues to get over the hill, particularly on the 5pm trip from Riwaka where waits of almost three hours are frustrating motorists.

One Golden Bay resident, who did not want to be named, said there should be a priority system, particularly for elderly residents with medical appointments in Nel- son. It was unfair they had to sit for more than two hours without facilities while tourists went ahead of them, he said.

Porter said from Sunday, March 4 the hill would be open from 8am to 5pm.

This Sunday open system would continue in coming weeks and would be weather dependent.

‘‘This means that road crews can work on the repairs for six days out of seven and speed up the rebuild completion,’’ Porter said.

‘‘We know how important this single highway is for people and businesses in Golden Bay and Takaka.’’

People need to be at the waiting areas at 7am and 5pm Monday to Saturday inclusive to be sure of getting over the hill. Other restrictions remain in place for rigid trucks only, with no trailers or over-dimension vehicles allowed.

The new waiting place on the Takaka side of the hill is at Ravensdown Ngarua Lime nearer the top of the hill, rather than Upper Takaka, allowing quicker access to Canaan Downs.