Short delays on State Highway 7 between Waipara and Waikari as safety work continues
There will be short delays on parts of North Canterbury’s State Highway 7 over the coming months as work on a $3.5million safety upgrade continues.
Stop/go operations and 30km/h speed restrictions will be in place between Waipara and Waikari until mid-March, along with other traffic management.
Contractors are installing safety barriers to help stop people dying or being seriously injured in a crash, and rumble strips to give drivers a wake-up call if they stray across the centre-line.
New signs to warn drivers of risks such as sharp corners and narrow bridges are being installed, along with road markings that are easier to see at night and in the wet. Guardrails will also be constructed on three bridges along the route - Weka Creek, Antills and Archers.
Contractors will closely monitor traffic to minimise delays, however people should plan ahead and allow extra time to get through Weka Pass on their way to Hanmer, the West Coast or Picton.
Many of the crashes on this stretch of road are caused by drivers losing control and driving off the side of the road. The changes being made will make this road safer and help reduce these types of crashes occurring in the future.
Monday, 21 January to Friday, 25 January
Contractors are installing guard rails around the Weka Pass Loop Road intersection and along the front of Frog Rock. Once the guard rails are in, contractors will finish installing and tensioning the flexible road safety barriers.
Monday, 28 January to mid-March
Contractors will be working on the Weka Bridge, removing the concrete parapets and replacing them with new guard rail. During work hours the bridge will be down to one lane and stop/go traffic management and a 30km/h speed restriction will be in place. When the site is unattended both lanes of the bridge will be open to traffic.
Temporary ‘safe hit posts’ will also be in place. These posts help direct traffic and keep contractors safe while they work in the narrow area. The posts will be removed once the project is complete. The artist’s impression below shows what the work site on and around the bridge will look like with the safe hit posts in place.
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