Source: New Zealand Transport Agency
Contractors will be hard at work on a key State Highway 6 summer maintenance project next month.
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.
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.
A local road detour will be available for all vehicles.
Rob Service, System Manager Top of the South, says the resurfacing is essential for keeping the road up to standard for all road users.
“It’s been six years since this part of the Hope Saddle last had surfacing work done. This is an important investment to ensure the highway is kept safe and reliable for drivers.”
“We appreciate road users can find works like this frustrating because of the travel delays involved. This is why we are minimising the impact as much as possible by doing it overnight when there is less traffic on the highway,” Mr Service says.
Once asphalting is complete, road markings will be reinstated under night works with stop/go controls and a 30 km/h speed limit.
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.
This detour is expected to add up to 20 minutes to travel times.
Rob Service urges drivers to factor the night closures and the detour into their travel plans.
“While the work is at night when fewer vehicles are on the road, this is still a main route between Nelson and Tasman. Please be aware of the work and adjust your travel accordingly.”
“We are aware Tasman District Council is currently working on Korere-Tophouse Road. However, this work will be finished by the time the night-time detour is in place,” Mr Service says.
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. It is suitable and approved for use by heavy vehicles.
