Delays or detours for two main roads in SC
Motorists are being advised that work on two state highways in South Canterbury will cause either a detour or delays.
Traffic will be restricted on Geraldine-Fairlie Hwy/SH79 for four weeks starting today while the section from the Kakahu rest area to Mulvihill Rd is rebuilt.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency maintenance contract manager John Keenan said the nearly $400,000 project to rebuild the one kilometre stretch of SH79, and extend the drainage culverts on either side, was the ‘‘first major renewal’’ of the section in 25 years, the decision to rebuild following a few years of patching potholes and other spots showing signs of wear and tear.
‘‘This renewal will extend the highway’s life and strength for another 25 years. The surface will be smoother and more pleasant to drive over with much less need for short-term patch repairs.’’
Motorists could expect up to 30-minute delays from 7am to 7pm Monday to Saturday. At night, on Sundays, and over the Easter holidays, the road would be open under a temporary speed restriction until it was as two lanes.
‘‘As this is a narrow section of highway, to do this work safely and protect our work crews and road users from machinery in a tight space, we will use manual traffic management and allow road users through on the hour and half-hour,’’ Keenan said.
There were no suitable short detours. However, motorists could use the SH8 route between Washdyke and Fairlie to bypass SH79. About 2500 vehicles used the road each day, Kennan said.
‘‘It can be a busy route when there are weekend events on in the Mackenzie District, Central Otago, and at Easter, so we want people to be aware of the delays before they set off and build in the extra time to their journey.’’ fullymarked
Keenan said rebuilding the highway surface involved a granular overlay, where extra aggregate or road metal is applied and sealed before the highway markings are redone.
Meanwhile, State Highway 1 between McNamaras and Timaru roads was closed yesterday for the replacement of a power pole damaged in a car crash.
Alpine Energy chief executive Andrew Tombs said the power pole on SH1 was damaged when a car collided with the adjacent pole, about 5.23am on February 11, and needed to be replaced ‘‘prior to the next maintenance schedule’’. Tombs said a traffic management plan was in place, and involved fully closing the seven-kilometre stretch of the highway and signposting detours.