Delays expected Arthur’s Pass route Canterbury to West Coast
MEDIA RELEASE
26 May 2017 | SOUTHERN REGION
Delays expected Arthur’s Pass route Canterbury to West Coast: Up to three oversized loads a week from Monday
From Monday, 29 May, for the next three months, trucks will begin moving 45 metre loads (bumper to bumper) from Hornby, Christchurch, via State Highway 73 (Porter’s/ Arthur’s Passes) to the new Taramakau Bridge project, between Greymouth and Kumara Junction. The load is carrying steel bridge beams which measure up to 34 metres.
All up, there are 44 bridge beams to get to the Taramakau River site.
Up to three times a week, one truck load is scheduled to leave Christchurch at4:30am to arrive at Taramakau around 6pm.
Some minor delays can be expected due to the length of the load and the slow and winding nature of parts of State Highway 73. More significant delays (10-20 minutes) can be expected going up Porter’s Pass and going down the Otira Viaduct. It's expected that the load will be between Springfield and Arthur’s Pass 7.30am - 12.30pm and between Arthur’s Pass and Otira around 2.30pm daily.
The Taramakau Bridge is located on State Highway 6 between Greymouth and Kumara Junction. More information on the project can be found here.
Before travelling this route you may wish to check http://www.nzta.govt.nz/traffic on the day to see if a truck is scheduled.
The Transport Agency thanks all drivers heading to the West Coast on a day the long load is scheduled for being patient if they are slightly delayed.
For real time information on highway conditions and incidents or to report issues:
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Check Facebook NZ Transport Agency South Island
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See the NZ Transport Agency's travel and traffic page here.www.nzta.govt.nz/trafficwww.nzta.govt.nz/traffic
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Call 0800 4 HIGHWAYS 0800 44 44 49
• MetService
road snowfall warnings web page.
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Twitter NZTA Canterbury and West Coast https://twitter.com/NZTACWC