Source: New Zealand Transport Agency
Contractors will be hard at work on a key State Highway 6 summer maintenance project over the next two weeks.
They will be carrying out extensive resurfacing work on the Hope Saddle, with five nights of closures planned from Sunday, 1 October to Thursday, 5 October. The work is essential for keeping the road up to standard for all road users.
Once asphalting is complete, road markings will be reinstated under night works with stop/go controls and a 30 km/h speed limit.
To keep drivers and contractors safe, the highway will be closed to all traffic between Motupiko and the intersection of State Highway 6 and State Highway 63 at Kawatiri Junction from 8 pm to 5 am every night. To minimise the impact on road users, the work has been deliberately timed to happen at night when there is less traffic on the highway.
During the night closures, a detour will be in place between State Highway 6, Korere-Tophouse Road, State Highway 63, Saint Arnaud-Kawatiri Highway, and State Highway 6, Kawatiri Junction. Northbound traffic will travel the same detour route in the opposite direction.
The closure and detour route are expected to add up to 20 minutes to travel times. Drivers are urged to factor this into their travel plans.
Works schedule and detour route
- Sunday, 1 October to Thursday, 5 October, 8 pm to 5 am.
- State Highway 6, Hope Saddle, will be closed in both directions between Motupiko and the intersection of State Highway 6/State Highway 63 at Kawatiri Junction.
- The work site is located approximately halfway between Motupiko and Glenhope.
- The recommended detour route for southbound traffic is between State Highway 6, Korere-Tophouse Road, State Highway 63, Saint Arnaud-Kawatiri Highway, and State Highway 6, Kawatiri Junction. Northbound traffic will travel the same detour route in the opposite direction.
- This detour is expected to add up to twenty minutes to travel times and is suitable and approved for use by heavy vehicles.