Source: New Zealand Transport Agency
Work on State Highway 1, Picton Elevation, gets back into gear next Monday (25 March).
Contractors will resume drainage works and repairs, reinstate the slow vehicle lane, and bring the entire stretch of road back to 100 km/h by early May.
At the end of last year, contractors worked hard to fix groundwater issues affecting the road surface.
Rob Service, System Manager Top of the South, says these efforts as well as subsequent site monitoring have shown that the groundwater flow has reduced.
“It means we can now get on with reinstating this vital stretch of state highway and make it easier for drivers to complete their travel.”
“To do this, contractors will repair the slumped road surface in the slow vehicle lane and install new culverts across the full width of the state highway, new sumps and drainage channels on the eastern side of the road, and new outlets and bank protection on the western side, then before reinstating the full width of the road,” Mr Service says.
From Monday, 25 March, work will be carried out between 7 am and 5:30 pm under a temporary speed limit of 30 km/h.
From 6 pm to 6 am, work will continue under stop/go. Road users must plan for delays of up to 15 minutes and must factor this into their travel plans. This is especially important for drivers with Cook Strait ferry connections.
Mr Service says stop/go traffic management is needed to keep contractors and road users safe.
“To minimise disruption, we will only do this at night when fewer vehicles are on the road. Contractors will work six days a week to finish the job as quickly as possible.”
“We realise this part of State Highway 1 has been affected for some time, but it has been a big job and has required careful planning and construction,” Mr Service says.
NZTA/Waka Kotahi thanks drivers for their patience and cooperation while these final works are completed. Contractors will make every effort to finish them as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Works Schedule:
- Monday, 25 March, to early May (Monday to Saturday – no work on Sundays).
- A reduced temporary speed limit of 30 km/h will be in place at roadwork sites between 7 am and 5:30 pm.
- Stop/Go traffic management will be in place overnight between 6 pm and 6 am. Expect delays of up to 15 minutes during this time. North bound ferry traffic will be prioritised.
- These works are weather-dependent and may be delayed.
There are other work areas on our state highways across the top of the South Island including night works on State Highway 1, near St Andrews south of Blenheim, until 28 March. Please plan ahead to ensure you reach your destination on time.
Map of works area:
Further information about these works can be found on our website
