Safer and smoother travel on State Highway 1 is a focus of a busy summer highway renewals season in Otago now underway.

Over the next few months, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) will be investing in resealing, resurfacing or reconstructing almost 190 lane kilometres* of highway in the Otago region, most of that on State Highway 1, as the busiest of the highways. 

*Lane kilometres count the number of lanes, including passing lanes, on a road rather than just the distance between point A and B. For example, a four-lane 10-kilometre stretch of road has a total of 40 lane kilometres.

“The warmer months from September through to March is when we do most of our work to keep the state highways in good condition for the travelling public,” says NZTA Area Manager for the lower South Island, Chris Harris.

“Roading materials we use, such as bitumen, are highly sensitive to climate conditions and require minimum temperatures to cure effectively. Anyone living in Otago knows how tough the winters can be, so we make sure we seize the window of opportunity that is available to us to get this important roading maintenance done.”

This summer season will see multiple projects across Otago, including several in the greater Dunedin city area, as well as north and south of the city. 

Road resurfacing: SH1 Cumberland Street (northbound), between St Andrew and Frederick Streets. SH1 Cumberland Street North (southbound), between Dundas and St David Streets

SH87 near Hagart-Alexander Drive, Mosgiel. SH88 near Port Chalmers. 

Road reconstruction: SH1 Herbert. SH1 Waikouaiti (including installation of new culverts)

SH1 Otokia. SH1 Henley. SH1 Rosebank Hill, Balclutha. SH1 Waiwera, south of Balclutha

SH8 Millers Flat. SH85 Dunrobin.

Road sealing: SH1, near T Y Duncan Road, north of Oamaru. SH1 Pigeon Flat, Dunedin-Waitati Highway, near the Leith Saddle. SH6 Haast Pass to Hawea. SH6 Kawarau Gorge. SH8B Cromwell. SH85 Macraes to Kyeburn. 

In addition to the work on the roads, other work will be carried out this summer season to keep road users safe.

In November, rock scaling work is due to be carried out at Nevis Bluff, between Queenstown and Cromwell, to reduce the risk of spontaneous rockfall onto State Highway 6 below. This work is expected to mean road users being held for up to 10 minutes at a time in both directions when the work is happening, so that loose or unstable rock can be released in a controlled way.