Planned one day closure for SH1 south of Kaikōura in mid-April, delays same day Hurunui Bridge

To help prepare State Highway 1 either side of Kaikōura for 24-hour operation by the end of April, the NZ Transport Agency has scheduled a closure on the south side for Wednesday, 18 April.

The section between the SH1/Leader Road intersection (north of Cheviot) and Peketa will be closed to all traffic for a full day.

It will close at 7.30pm on Tuesday, 17 April and reopen at 7.30am on Thursday, 19 April – with only local convoys operating morning and night to assist residents to leave and return to their homes.

North Canterbury Transport Infrastructure Recovery (NCTIR) Network Operations Manager Tresca Forrester says the closure is needed to complete essential work for the April round the clock opening.

“Work includes scaling or rock removal where abseilers will be bringing down material over traffic lanes, and replacing guardrail in a narrow section of road. It’s a tight part of the corridor with limited space so it can’t be done safely while the road is open.”
Anyone travelling between Picton and Christchurch on Wednesday, 18 April is advised to use the alternate route via Lewis Pass. For travel south of Kaikōura, the Inland Road via Waiau (Route 70) can be used.

“We apologise for the inconvenience of this closure but it is necessary work which contributes to us being able to reopen SH1 at night as soon as possible. We know that is important for people and we thank everyone for their patience,” says Ms Forrester.

For more information on the road closure as it is announced please visit: www.nzta.govt.nz/projects/kaikoura-earthquake-response/planned-closures/

Hurunui Bridge inspections same day further to the south
Bridge inspection works on the Hurunui Bridge (south of the Leader Road and Cheviot) have been coordinated for 18 April while there will be less traffic in the area. The bridge will close for half an hour between 10am to 10.30am, 11am to 11.30am, 12pm to 12.30pmand 1pm to 1.30pm. It will be open at all other times.

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