SH6 Weekend Reopenings Again, Safety Work Still Needed
by NZ Transport Agency · SCOOPSlip-affected State Highway 6 between Makarora and Hāwea in Central Otago is scheduled to reopen to continuous traffic during daytime hours again this weekend (as it did last weekend), however work is still needed to address the heightened risk of further slips.
This section of highway remains closed on weekdays, aside from escorted convoys three times daily, after heavy rain last month led to rock, gravel, and vegetation tumbling down onto the road at multiple sites. Slips continue in places, including a fresh rockfall earlier this week.
Subject to weather interruptions, from 8am tomorrow (Saturday 12 September), the road will be open to all traffic without convoys, closing again at 5.30pm. Temporary speed limits will be in place and there will be at least one site limited to a single lane where motorists will be required to stop on demand. The same will apply on Sunday, 8am to 5.30pm (13 September). The section of SH6 needs to close again in the weekend hours between 5.30pm and 8am because fresh slips could come down in the dark that are not visible to road users, and roading crews will not be readily available to assist as they are during the day.
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After 5.30pm on Sunday (13 September), the road is scheduled to revert to the existing closed status, with the convoys operating three times daily from Monday onwards, says NZTA area manager for the lower South Island, Chris Harris.
“The main reason the closure with convoys continues next week is that geotechnical engineers have identified a number of sites on this route where there is still a real risk of further rock or debris coming down onto the road,” Mr Harris says.
“From Monday, abseilers will come in to carry out scaling to clear unstable and hazardous rock, or other material, that poses a risk to road users and roading crews.”
“Keeping traffic access limited to the daily convoys for now on the weekdays will also allow crews to carry out any additional repairs needed to infrastructure bridges and culverts, as well as space for trucks to cart thousands of tonnes of rock and other material that has been cleared off the highway, stockpiled at the roadside and now needs to be disposed of at suitable locations.”
“We remain focused on getting the road fully reopened when it is safe to do so, and from next week we will be working towards shortening the closure area as an initial step.”
Some rain, and potentially snow, is forecast in the area on Sunday (13 September) and if the opening that day has to be cut short, notification will be provided. People can stay up to date on the latest road status at NZTA’s Journey Planner site or at the Otago/Southland Facebook page.
The scheduled departure and return times for the convoys on weekdays next week are as follows:
- Convoy 1 departs Makarora village heading south at 7.15am; then returns north at 8am from Isthmus Peak Track car park.
- Convoy 2 departs Isthmus Peak Track car park heading north at 12pm; then returns south from Makarora village at 12.45pm.
- Convoy 3 departs Isthmus Peak Track car park heading north at 5.30pm; then returns south from Makarora Village at 6.15pm.
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