Tourism operators delighted SH6 re-opening 24/7

Tourism operators delighted SH6 re-opening 24/7

Tourism operators say the re-opening of SH6 to overnight traffic between the West Coast and Wanaka is an early Christmas present, at the start of what is looking like an extremely busy summer season.

The popular tourist route today re-opened to 24/7 traffic. It has been closed at night through Haast Pass for 14 months, after a massive slip occurred at Diana Falls in September 2013.

Glacier Country Tourism Group Chairman Rob Jewell says it has been a trying 14 months and tourism operators are delighted to return to a normal summer operating environment.

“SH6 is the lifeblood of an extremely popular tourist route between the West Coast glaciers and Wanaka. Naturally, visitors have an expectation that the road is open at all times so it is a real confidence booster that we are now back to 24/7 access,” he says.

The West Coast was selected as one of the top 10 places to visit in the world in 2014 by Lonely Planet. Tourism operators on both sides of the Haast Pass say there is a real sense of optimism about the summer season with the strongest forward bookings they have seen in some years.

General Manager of Lake Wanaka Tourism James Helmore says the reopening of the pass at night will once again give visitors flexibility in their travel plans.

“Visitors like to pack in as much as they can in a days touring so having the road open after 7pm will give travelers much needed confidence. A lot of thanks are due to NZTA for undertaking such a difficult piece of engineering,” he says.

The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) says the rockfall protection system they have installed at Diana Falls is the most complex ever built in Australasia and will be capable of stopping a boulder weighing up to 16 tonnes.
The Transport Agency’s Regional Performance Manager Pete Connors says the slip at Diana Falls has been extremely challenging and it is pleasing to have got the highway re-opened 24/7 before the start of the busy tourist season.

“We know the night-time closures have been frustrating for everyone and thank the West Coast community and tourism industry for its support and patience while we’re worked to restore full access through Haast Pass,” he says.

Fox and Franz Josef Glacier’s are two of New Zealand’s most popular visitor destinations. They are unique as they are two of only three glaciers in the world bound by rainforest and coastline providing visitors with the opportunity to see dramatic scenery in a dynamic environment.

ENDS

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