Source: New Zealand Transport Agency
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency has changed the way it will reseal the Richmond Deviation next week, part of SH6 south of Nelson.
“Instead of a full-day closure, with all the traffic detoured onto local streets, the highway will be resealed in one-third sections,” says Mark Owen, Regional Performance Manager Top of the South.
”This will allow two-way traffic, at a slower speed past the work site, and we will need people to be patient while this work, then the loose chip sweeping and line marking afterwards, is completed.
“It will take the full week to complete the resurfacing so we need people to build in extra time for their travel from 7 am to 7 pm each day,” he says.
“We apologise for the relatively late change of plan, and with the recent weather events this has been somewhat challenging, but we think this will avoid congestion on the local roads, which go past several schools and through suburban residential neighbourhoods. The downside is, it will take much longer to complete so people need to be patient over the next fortnight.”
Mr Owen says the work has been postponed from several earlier proposed weekend slots due to rain and given fine weather is forecast for Monday and the week ahead, it is hoped good progress can be made.
The highway resealing needs to be completed in warm, dry conditions ahead of safety barriers being installed later this year. The barriers will keep opposing direction lanes of traffic safely separated and avoid head-on collisions which cause the most deaths and serious injuries.
Key points:
- Instead of closing SH6 Richmond Deviation, the road will be resurfaced one-third of the road width at a time. The remaining two-thirds will remain open, two lanes of traffic will operate, but at 30km/h speed restrictions.
- Hours of work will be 7am – 7pm.
- Days of work for resurfacing: Monday 21 February to Friday 25 February.
- Sweeping up loose chip and line marking will follow the resurfacing.
- 30km/hour speed restrictions will remain in place 24/7 until the line marking is completed.
- People should still expect a much slower journey over the five days and following days.
- Please build in extra time and take care around our road crews and traffic management team.
- If people are able to go to work earlier than 7am and avoid peak hours, that is to be encouraged.
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