Holiday traffic delays as rockfall work begins near Kaikōura

Thursday, 2 July 2020

An artist’s impression of the rock protection canopy on the cliffs above State Highway 1 south of Kaikōura.

School holiday traffic south of Kaikōura will face delays of more than 30 minutes as work begins on a protective rockfall canopy.

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) said the construction of the canopy on the cliffs above sections of State Highway One would begin on July 6, the first day of the holidays.

The canopy would be installed on some corners between Peketa and Parititahi Tunnels, south of Kaikōura township.

The first stage of the work would be carried out on weekdays between 9am and 5pm, reducing the highway to one lane, and adding about 35 minutes to travel times until early August.

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This design of protection was preferred over a tunnel for a few reasons.

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NZTA North Canterbury Transport Infrastructure Recovery alliance (NCTIR) manager Colin Knaggs said the canopy was a safety priority for road users and the project needed to be finished by Christmas.

“With more than 70 recorded rockfall incidents in the area since the 2016 earthquake, a permanent solution is needed to protect road users now and in the future,” he said.

The canopy was preferred over a tunnel for a few reasons, he said.

It would not obstruct the view to the sea and it would also allow light through while redirecting the falling rocks away from the highway, he said.

“[It] is the first of its kind to be installed in the southern hemisphere,” Knaggs said.