MEDIA RELEASE

9 December 2016 | SOUTHERN REGION

Kaikoura to Mt Lyford Inland Road (route 70) Update: keep registering

Convoys in and out of Kaikoura via the inland road (route 70 via Mt Lyford and Waiau) will continue into next week, the NZ Transport Agency advises, and people need to continue to register on line.

People are reminded that although the route takes about two hours, in some cases convoys may have short delays along the way around construction sites.

• This morning’s convoy of 153 registered drivers was able to head into Kaikoura around 9.15 am. Vehicles towing light trailers and caravans were provided access as a group today.

• Heavy truck and trailer units will be part of this afternoon’s convoy of southbound vehicles. That convoy will be confirmed closer to the time of departure.

• Both of yesterday’s convoys had delays with the wet weather slowing the checks of the route by helicopter however 80 vehicles went north in the morning and 123 came south in the afternoon.

People should continue to register on line and will be advised by text closer to the time if the convoy is able to go or not, based on safety advice from geotechnical advisors who fly over the route before each departure.

No convoys are planned for the weekend.

“This is to enable crews to form a deviation around the Whalesback rockfall area,” says Pete Connors, Regional Performance Manager for the Transport Agency. “Crews also need to permanently reinstate drainage pipes (culverts) closer to the Conway River.”

Each convoy of vehicles reduces by several hours the amount of available time for heavy machinery to make progress.

The Transport Agency is aiming for a return to two-way, daytime access along route 70/ the Mt Lyford/ Waiau Road as soon as possible, however this will be confirmed closer to the date.

Until that change occurs, people who want to get in and out of Kaikoura need to use the convoy system and register on line.

• More information for people wanting to get in and out of Kaikourahere.

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