Drivers on the West Coast including South Westland and the Buller Gorge will strike delays for rock scaling (rock removal) at different locations on SH6 from next week (19 February).

People need to build in 30 minutes for this work and check what days they are travelling so they are ready for the wait over the fortnight to 1 March, says NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA).

 “If it is wet, the work may be delayed and rescheduled,” says Moira Whinham, Maintenance Contract Manager for NZTA on the West Coast.

Approximate dates, weather dependent: Upper Buller Gorge – 19, 20 and 21 February – Monday to Wednesday. Lower Buller Gorge – 22 and 23 February - Thursday and Friday.

Meybille Bay, north of Punakaiki – 26 and 27 February, Monday and Tuesday. Cobden Hill, near Greymouth – 28 February, Wednesday. (People can travel via Stillwater ie SH7 instead of SH6). Kiwi Jacks, on the Fox Hills, between Fox and Franz Josef Glacier towns – 29 February and 1 March, Thursday and Friday.

Apart from the Cobden Hills site, there are no alternative routes around these parts of SH6 so people need to be ready to pause for up to half an hour, says Moira Whinham.