As part of its major upgrade of the entrance to Queenstown alongside Frankton’s Bus Hub improvements, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) and its alliance partners in Kā Huanui a Tāhuna will be closing sections of the BP roundabout overnight from this Sunday, 11 August.

Each section/leg will close for around ten nights from 11 August through to mid-September. 

“This will enable key utilities like gas, electricity (high and low voltage), broadband, water/stormwater pipes to be layered into 16 trenches running under the highway,” says NZTA Director Regional Relationships James Caygill.

The overnight closure times will be between 10pm and 6am (see maps below for full details).

Crews will excavate 16 trenches across the highway, layering 27 utility pipes across each, for critical services.

“Upgrading key utility services across the Frankton community and beyond is a key element of this project, unlocking growth and preparing to create a new transport environment for Frankton and wider Queenstown,” says Mr Caygill. 

“The roundabout is the intersection of every critical service that helps nearly half of Queenstown’s population function - like stormwater, water supply, electricity, gas, and telecommunications,” he says.

The work is a critical step to be completed ahead of the Frankton roundabout’s change to an upgraded, signalised intersection.

“We have to work at night due to the high daytime traffic volumes - up to 42,000 vehicles per day at the busiest times of year. Given the restrictions on the state highway, it’s not possible to close the road during the day.

“We considered a partial or stop-go closure, but it was ruled out as traffic modelling showed vehicles would move quicker via the proposed detour. A full closure on each section of the state highways means works can be completed more quickly – rather than multiple partial closures over an extended period.”

Detour signs will direct traffic around Queenstown Airport in both directions, with the detour expected to take drivers about six minutes.