Source: New Zealand Transport Agency
State Highway 6 will remain at one lane under Stop/Go traffic controls and a 30 km/h temporary speed limit at the Whangamoa Hill slip site until the end of this week.
The highway was closed for most of the day yesterday after a slip occurred early in the morning.
Rob Service, System Manager Top of the South, says traffic management must remain in place for the time being for safety reasons.
“More wet weather is forecast over the next few days which could force loose soil, rock and a root ball and stump down the hill face onto the road.”
“It means we will keep safety barriers in place at the slip site and the road to one lane under stop/go traffic lights. Keeping drivers safe must be the priority,” Mr Service says.
People travelling between Nelson and Blenheim can expect delays of around 20 minutes when travelling through the area.
Mr Service says the slip face will be assessed to determine what remedial work is needed.
“We need to wait for the bad weather to pass before we can do this in case it creates any more problems. Once that happens, we will restore the road to two lanes as soon as it is safe to do so.”
“The good news is this is an overslip, and they are easier and faster to fix than underslips. Once we have plans in place, we will share them with the public to ensure they know what will happen,” Mr Service says.
