Motorists urged to take care on glenorchy road

Motorists are being asked to drive with care through a 100-metre section on the Glenorchy Road known as Twelve Mile Bluff, approximately 20km from Queenstown, Queenstown Lakes District Council roading manager Ian Marshall said.

“Just before 2pm today a vehicle was travelling the road from Glenorchy towards Queenstown when the occupants came upon debris across the road, right in the narrows,” Mr Marshall said.

The vehicle had come to a stop when another piece of rock fell onto the bonnet. The rock caused significant damage to the front of the Toyota Landcruiser.

“It would have been quite a shock for the people in the vehicle but fortunately no-one was injured,” Mr Marshall said.

In total, two cubic metres of debris were cleared from the road, which was re-opened at 3pm.
“On the face of it, it’s not a section of rock face that we would have expected to fail but at this time of year the freeze thaw of winter can have an effect, that’s the nature of life in an alpine area,’ Mr Marshall said.

The Council had arranged for a geologist to inspect the rock face on Monday morning.

“Meanwhile we have closed off one lane and would ask that people take care when travelling on that section of road,” he said.