Delays as SH1 works continue

Motorists and holidaymakers travelling along the Kaiko¯ura coast face continued delays this summer, two years after a

magnitude-7.8 earthquake destroyed chunks of the highway.

State Highway 1 was closed for

13 months north of Kaiko¯ura after it was significantly damaged in the November 2016 earthquake. The crucial highway is the main route between Picton and Christchurch.

The quake caused about 85 landslides, bringing down nearly 1 million cubic metres of rock and debris and damaging 20 rail tunnels and about 194 kilometres of road.

NZ Transport Agency spokeswoman Tresca Forrester said work to rebuild the road was still happening. About 20 work sites will be scattered along the highway over summer – mostly between Peketa (9km south of Kaiko¯ura) and Clarence (41km north of Kaiko¯ ura).

A 9-metre high seawall being built at O¯ hau Point is due to be completed in mid-October. The wall will protect the new road from extreme coastal weather and will include a safe stopping area.

Tunnel widening work is expected to be completed in early October and a shared path for cyclists and pedestrians will be built around the point over summer.

The ongoing roadworks mean the journey between Christchurch and Picton, using SH1, takes about five-and-a-half hours. The alternative route, via SH7 and the Lewis Pass, takes about six-and-a-half hours.

‘‘It’ll feel like a lot of stop and starting between the north and south of Kaiko¯ ura. We appreciate people’s patience and we ask they

‘‘We appreciate people’s patience and we ask they allow time and make the stops part of the journey.’’ Tresca Forrester NZ Transport Agency spokeswoman

allow time and make the stops part of the journey.’’

KiwiRail acting chief executive Todd Moyle said more freight trains would start running along the Kaiko¯ ura coast from October 7.

Despite recent significant weather events, good progress had been made on the Main North Line in the past few months, he said.

A major milestone for KiwiRail will be the return of its Coastal Pacific passenger trains on December 1 for the first time since the earthquake.

‘‘We’ve been getting a lot of interest and strong bookings for this award-winning scenic rail journey and already have days completely sold out months before we begin.’’

With more trains on the tracks, summer motorists would need to take more care at rail crossings, Moyle said.

‘‘People [should] always expect trains at any time and from any direction when they approach level crossings.’’

Kaiko¯ura District Council chief executive Angela Oosthuizen said the council hoped to start work on new bridges on Hawthorne Rd and Gillings Lane and an aeration lagoon at Fords reservoir by Christmas.

About $2.4m will be spent on a new 1.5m litre steel tank reservoir to replace the town’s existing two tanks, and work to repair quake-damaged sewers and pump water stations should start early next year.

‘‘This is the largest capital programme that council has ever had to deliver and preparation and planning has taken some time but now residents will start to see real progress,’’ she said.