The NZ Transport Agency’s highway maintenance team is milling and sealing an area of highway near the Okarahia Stream, south of Kaikōura, on the Hundalee hills from Sunday night, 17 March to Thursday night, 21 March.*

Drivers will be detoured around the site onto the Inland Road (Route 70) on the Kaikōura side and onto the Leader Road, near Cheviot, on the south side. This will add to the journey distance.

The work on two different sites – one a tight bend and at the nearby stream - requires a full highway closure overnight from 9 pm to 7 am for five nights, says Pete Connors, System Manager, for the Transport Agency.

1. Closures have been timed to minimise the effect upon ferry travellers.
2. Outside of these hours, the highway will be open to two-way traffic.

Okarahia work sites between Cheviot and Kaikōura:

Lewis Pass, SH7 between Hanmer Springs turnoff and Springs Junction – night work tonight and tomorrow night
State Highway 7, between Hanmer Springs turnoff and Springs Junction, is also being resurfaced this week at night. The highway is closed from 8 pm to 5 am Wednesday (tonight) and possibly also Thursday night, but opens on the top of each hour for ten minutes. People could have a 50 minute wait during these hours.

Weld Pass work, Marlborough, one night, Monday, 18 March
There is also work occurring on the Weld Pass in Marlborough on Monday night (18 March) next week, weather dependent. Cars and light vehicles will be able to pass through this site at the top of every hour overnight but with potential delays of 50 minutes.

Overweight/ HPMV and 50 MAX permit holders will be detoured on Monday night onto State Highways 6,63, 65 and 7 (the Alternate Route, Picton to Christchurch, via the Lewis Pass to Waipara) while this work on the Weld Pass is underway. If the weather is wet, it will transfer onto the next dry night.

“While we will try to keep delays to a minimum, we urge people to be patient and plan their journeys to account for some delays from road works,” says Mr Connors. “The resurfacing work in particular will make the roads safer for everyone. We thank everyone for their patience.”

*The work at Okarahia is weather dependent so any wet weather may delay its completion or push the dates out. Please check updates on this site: http://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/traffic/regions/11

Plan ahead for a safe, enjoyable journey this summer. Keep up to date with:
1. Traffic updates: nzta.govt.nz/traffic
2. Facebook: facebook.com/NZTAsouthisland
3. Twitter Canterbury/West Coast: twitter.com/NZTACWC
4. Twitter Top of the South: twitter.com/NZTATotS
5. Journey planner: journeys.nzta.govt.nz
6. Phone: 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49)

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