Source: New Zealand Transport Agency
The current maintenance and new traffic signals work on the Luggate Red Bridge near Cromwell is being extended by a week, says NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA).
Work on the SH8A bridge began in June using Stop/Go, with two weeks of daytime closures, 9am to 5 pm, currently underway in the school holiday period. A detour route is well sign posted around the closed bridge during day-times.
With more timber running boards on the bridge deck needing to be replaced than originally estimated, the two weeks of daytime traffic closures will extend an additional week to Friday, 26 July, says Robert Choveaux, System Manager for NZTA, Lower South Island.
School buses and emergency vehicles will be accommodated at short notice.
The bridge is a key link between Tarras and Cromwell/Wanaka.
The detours are slightly different for HPMV Higher Mass vehicles than earlier years. Other vehicles will have the same detours as earlier years. (See details below).
The Luggate Bridge with scaffolding platform in place for close inspection of joints and piers by the abseiling team previous years:
People who usually use the bridge weekday daytime hours will need to either take the detour route or travel outside of these times until after 26 July.
For the full daytime closure period, 8-26 July, weekdays only:
- Light vehicles (cars, vans) can travel via Kane and Camp Hill Roads through Hāwea Flat. It will add 25-30 minutes to the journey. (Camp Hill Road Bridge on the detour route isn’t approved for HPMV, 50MAX or HPMV Higher Mass.)
- HPMV, 50MAX vehicles and HPMV Higher Mass permit holders can travel via Kane, Cemetery, Domain Roads and Capell Ave – SH6 via Albert Town to SH84.
- Overweight permit holders – need to refer to their permit and confirm an alternate route according to their permit type or travel outside of the closure times.
Aspiring Highways maintenance team maintains the state highways in Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes District for NZTA. “We thank the travelling public and freight operators for their patience and understanding,” says Mr Choveaux.
The Luggate Bridge detour route which is not suitable for all vehicles (see notes above):
