Some Wānaka drivers planning to travel on the Crown Range Road next week will need to instead take the longer trip via Cromwell and the Kawarau Gorge to get to Queenstown.

The Crown Range Road will be closed for five days from just south of the Cardrona township to SH6 (bottom of the zig zag) from Monday (November 25) to Friday (November 29) between 8am and 4pm.

It is part of work already underway to clear several slips that resulted from unusually heavy rainfall in September and October, Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) infrastructure operations manager Simon Mason said.

“Crews can safely resolve most of the issues up there without much disruption to motorists, but one slip on the zig zags just up from State Highway 6 will require more significant work to clear it and ensure the safety of those driving this route,” he said.

“We’ve assessed a range of methods to tackle repair works and determined that while closing the Crown Range will be disruptive, it’s the safest and quickest way to clear loose material up there and secure the route for future users.”

Drivers will still be able to travel over the Crown Range next Monday-Friday before 8am and after 4pm.

Drivers might also need to add extra time to their trip over the Crown Range the week after the closure (weekday, from December 2-7) as additional road repairs will occur under stop/go conditions.

Motorists who are using the Cromwell-Kawarau detour next week should be aware Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) has multiple worksites through the Kawarau Gorge.

It could take up to an hour longer to complete the journey between Wānaka and Queenstown, Simon said.

During the closure period the road between Wānaka and Cardrona township will remain open as normal.

Access for emergency services will be available at all times.

Simon said the closure period will also provide an opportunity for a thorough inspection and maintenance along the entire road, likely to include sweeping/cleaning, pavement work, fixing minor potholes and edge breaks, and checking signage.

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PHOTO: QLDC