The Department of Conservation (DOC) says it is making progress on work needed to reopen the Blue Pools track. 

In May this year DOC said the track was closing temporarily because the Blue Pools bridge required upgrade work and the Makarora Bridge needed to be replaced. 

Now DOC says the construction work, and the eventual reopening, is getting closer.

“Engineering works are in the final stages of completion before being put out to tender for Makarora and Blue Pools Bridges,” DOC said in a statement.

It said the process had been held up after an initial investigation showed more information was required for geotechnical reporting.

The Rob Roy bridge was also closed in May because it requires upgrade work, but track users will have a longer wait before they can access the Rob Roy Glacier Track.

The view of Rob Roy Glacier from the track.

A DOC representative told the Wānaka App the upgrade of the Rob Roy bridge was a “long term project”.

“You can get a good view of the glacier from the track to Aspiring Hut, which also starts at Raspberry Creek car park and is a 4-5 hour return, 9km and mostly flat,” they advised.

Both the Blue Pools and Rob Roy Glacier walks are extremely popular.

On average, around 550 people walk the 3km return Blue Pools track each day in January.

Rob Roy Glacier Track, a more significant walk of 10km or around 3-4 hours, attracts around 180 people per day over summer.

DOC said it would provide another update on the status of the bridges in December.

PHOTOS: Supplied