A range of safety improvements for drivers on roads around Wānaka and the Upper Clutha are underway as part of a programme by Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) and Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Authority.

QLDC property and infrastructure general manager Tony Avery said upgrades are spread across Wānaka-Mount Aspiring Road and Cardrona Valley Road.

“Over 9,000 metres of new safety barriers will be installed, in addition to road signage and markings, minor earthworks, and landscaping and native planting in some of the locations,” he said.

“Work is being undertaken in stages to minimise disruption, and crews have started on Wānaka-Mount Aspiring Road before they move to Cardrona Valley Road and other portions of these upgrades.”

The upgrades follow a corridor assessment QLDC and Stantec carried out to highlight the degree of risk in areas across the Upper Clutha, and how to effectively address it.

While the installation of most safety improvements will take place to the side of the road being worked on, some changes to traffic flow will be required to make sure construction crews and drivers remain safe, Tony said.

“It’s important any drivers heading through these work sites abide by signage and any temporary speed limits,” he said.

The road safety improvements are partially funded by Waka Kotahi’s Road to Zero strategy, which adopts a world leading evidence-based approach and delivers cost effective upgrades to improve road safety.

The contract for this work was awarded to South Roads.

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PHOTO: Wānaka App