Traffic lights will be installed permanently at the Luggate Red Bridge, following five weeks of wider maintenance beginning this week.

Traffic signals are being installed to manage the bridge’s single lane flows and the impact made by heavy vehicles, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi said.

Starting today (Tuesday June 4), stop/go traffic management will be used to keep traffic flowing around the work site while essential maintenance is undertaken on the 110-year-old historic bridge.

Aspiring Highways abseilers will work above the Clutha River/Mata-Au tightening bolts and checking deck running boards.

The work day and stop/go delays will run between 9am and 5pm weekdays.

Following the work period, two weeks of daytime closure (Monday July 8 to Friday July 19 - also from 9am to 5pm) will be needed to install traffic signals.

The bridge is a key link between Tarras, Cromwell, and Wānaka, but detour routes are available for traffic during the closure times, NZTA Lower South Island system manager Robert Choveaux said.

“The detours are slightly different for HPMV Higher Mass vehicles than earlier years, while other vehicles will have the same detours as earlier years,” Robert said.

The Luggate Bridge detour route, which is not suitable for all vehicles.

“People who usually use the bridge during daytime hours will need to either take the detour route or travel outside of these times while the two-week traffic signal installation is underway.”

Arrangements have been made to accommodate the school buses, and emergency vehicles will also be accommodated at short notice.

For the full daytime closure period, July 8-19, weekdays only: Light vehicles (cars, vans) can travel via Kane and Camphill Roads through Hāwea Flat. It will add 25-30 minutes to the journey. (Camphill Road Bridge on the detour route isn’t approved for HPMV or 50Max.) 

HPMV, 50MAX vehicles and HPMV Higher Mass permit holders can travel via Kane, Cemetery, Domain Roads and Capell Ave - SH6 via Albert Town to SH84. Overweight permit holders need to refer to their permit and confirm an alternate route according to their permit type or travel outside of the closure times.

IMAGES: Supplied