NZ Transport Agency - URGENT

16 October 2012

Truck removal on SH1 at Bulli Point south of Taupo will close highway for 7 hours this Thursday from 9.00am

State Highway One at Bulli Point south of Taupo will be closed this Thursday (18 October) for 7 hours from 9.00am until 4.00pm to allow the safe removal of a truck which rolled off the highway earlier this week.

NZ Transport Agency Highway (NZTA) Network Operations Manager, Karen Boyt, says the operation to remove the truck is difficult due to the narrow road at the accident scene and the position of the truck down the steep bank above the lake. A large crane is required to lift the truck which will take up the full width of the road during the operation.

“In addition we need to ensure enough time is set aside during daylight hours to achieve the successful removal of the truck, without compromising the safety of the removal crew,” says Ms Boyt.

“We really appreciate that drivers, local residents and businesses feel the impact of such closures and we aim to minimise the effect as much as possible,” says Ms Boyt. “This is why we have timed the closure to start at 9.00 am, to minimise inconvenience to people travelling to work or school that morning and to allow freight and other road services time to get through early before the closure begins. We are also talking with these groups to assist them with their plans for afternoon travel.”

“There are no local alternative routes around this section of highway, so all traffic will either need to use Poihipi Road north of Taupo which connects SH1 and SH32; or if travelling from further afield, use SH32 on the western side of Lake Taupo when travelling north and south.”

“People will therefore need to plan their Thursday to either travel through this area on either side of the road closure times or via the alternative routes. We apologise for the inconvenience caused to motorists and we thank them for their patience and understanding around this operation.”

People can check with the NZTA's freephone 08004 HIGHWAYS or 0800 44 44 49, or the NZTA website www.highwayinfo.govt.nz for up-to-the-minute info on road conditions; and to check on the progress of Thursday’s closure.

ENDS

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