Glenorchy Road delays to ease

 Delays experienced due to road works on the Glenorchy Road are expected to ease by Monday, Queenstown Lakes District Council roading manager Ian Marshall said.


“The Wilson’s Bay rehabilitation project will be sealed next week and the reconstruction work underway near Blanket Bay will be completed by the end of next week,” Mr Marshall said.


With unrelated maintenance work also occurring at the 12 Mile Bluff area, motorists on the road had been experiencing delays of between 10 and 20 minutes.


“The work is scheduled to be completed by March 15, weather permitting, I would advise people travelling to and from Glenorchy to allow up to 20 minutes for potential delay through until the end of next week,” Mr Marshall said.


Meanwhile the need to undertake road works across the district during the summer period was cause for factoring in contingency time in all travel directions.


“You have three different work sites on the Crown Range Road, Transit road works at Lake Hayes and the Kawarau Gorge, work being completed on Malaghans Road, the Gorge Road tree clearance project being completed ahead of rehabilitation and realignment and of course the Camp Street project,” Mr Marshall said.


The council’s new procurement strategy had turned the roading network into a hive of activity.


“This is all work that is either well overdue or much needed. The result will be safer and improved roads in our district,” Mr Marshall said.


Road works in the Lakes District could only be carried out during the summer months as winter temperatures and permafrost precluded winter work.


“This year we are in catch up mode and the amount of work being undertaken is no doubt causing some frustration but there is gain with the pain,” Mr Marshall said.