Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes District have a big season of summer maintenance and repairs ahead, says Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency.  

Aspiring Highways, on behalf of Waka Kotahi, would be delivering road reconstruction and resurfacing projects from now until mid-March, Waka Kotahi Central Otago maintenance contract manager Peter Standring says.

“As daylight hours increase, the warmer temperatures and dry air help new seals stick as intended to the road surface. 

“While we are pleased to have this work scheduled and people will appreciate the finished result, we ask people to take special care given the number of road crews they may come across on some key routes in and out of Central Otago and around Queenstown and Wānaka,” he said.

As well as the Waka Kotahi highways work there will also be third party private developer projects underway, which can also affect highway travel.

“If people can build in an extra 20 minutes to their journeys, it will help ease the pressure on everyone and reduce the temptation to make up time if there is a short delay,” Peter said.

He reminded drivers that road crew members appreciate people slowing down to the posted speed limit near work sites. 

“Our crews work in all weathers and do their best to make their sites as safe as possible for everyone, including themselves.”

Work would start November 6 through the December 20 pre-Christmas shut-down. Work would restart January 22 to the end of February 2024.

“Where traffic volumes are high we aim to minimise the impact by working at night or outside of peak holiday periods,” Peter said.

The reconstruction projects, all weather dependent, include: SH8 Blue Gums – Tarras, south of the SH8/8A intersection. Mid-September to early October; SH6 Wye Creek, Mid-October to early November; and SH6 Chard Rd, February/March 2024.

Some of the planned resurfacing projects would also cause disruption to road users due to their location and would involve significant traffic management, including partial road closures. 

Some of those works would be done overnight to minimise delays for customers on roads with high traffic volumes: SH6 Kawarau Gorge through to east of the Crown Range intersection; and SH6 Woolshed Rd intersection, near Jack’s Point, Queenstown.

A third culvert replacement in Roxburgh would also start in early October.