Tree felling will cause delays on Western Corridor

Motorists are being warned of delays on State Highway 1 to the west of Christchurch this weekend as work begins to fell 300 to 400 mature eucalyptus trees.

The NZ Transport Agency’s State Highway Manager Colin Knaggs says trees will be felled this weekend near the entrance to Clearwater Resort on Johns Road.

“To enable the safe removal of the trees, we need to create an exclusion zone of three times the tree height in all directions. As a result, the highway will need to be closed for up to five minutes as each lot of trees is felled.”

He says felling of the trees will begin at about 6.30am and continue up to 9pm. The contractors will manage queues to minimise delays for road users.

“Road users are advised to consider travelling on alternative routes on Saturday and Sunday to avoid delays.”

The felling will continue later in the month, during the weekends 22 and 23, and 29 and 30 November, until all the trees have been removed from along four sections of the highway.

“The trees are being removed to enable work to begin on four-laning the next section of State Highway 1, from Sawyers Arms Road to The Groynes.”

Mr Knaggs says the Transport Agency apologised in advance for the delays and any inconvenience for motorists.

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