Work Resumes to Clear Rocks Above State Highway 6 in Westland
After heavy rain made conditions treacherous, work has restarted to clear dangerously large and unstable rocks high above State Highway 6 in Westland. The recent torrential rain caused flooding, slips, and road closures, including the Epitaph Slip that disrupted highway access between Haast and Lake Moeraki.
Despite the challenges, SH6 north of Lake Moeraki and from Haast south remains open for business. However, there is no available detour, prompting motorists to consider using the Arthur’s or Lewis passes as alternative routes.
The NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi has announced that a definitive timeframe for reopening the road will be provided next Wednesday, or earlier if possible. Crews had to halt rock scaling work north of Haast on Thursday due to heavy rain but have since resumed the operation.
Rock scaling work, which began earlier this week after the setup of a helipad for equipment delivery, has been progressing well. The agency stated that work will continue over the weekend, with plans to clear rockfall material and construct a protective bund to safeguard the road once the rockfall risk is sufficiently mitigated.
While the section of highway between Lake Moeraki and Paringa has fully reopened, motorists should anticipate delays as crews work to clear remaining slips. NZTA emphasized the importance of expediting work on this critical route for the region’s connectivity.
This week, crews have been engaged in various tasks such as filling cracks in the highway, using airbags to dislodge unstable rocks, clearing overhanging vegetation, conducting controlled explosions for stability assessment, and commencing drainage work. The approved design for the protective bund is ready for installation once deemed safe.
