This retaining wall, is one of the many visible signs of progress on the Mingha Bluff realignment Project
This two-year $22 million project is being delivered on behalf of the Government by the NZ Transport Agency, and is one of two South Island projects to benefit from the Government’s five accelerated regional highway projects.
SH73 from Mingha Bluff to Rough Creek is being widened to nine metres and will improve safety over five kilometres of narrow winding highway. Once completed, it will also provide more predictable journey times between Canterbury and the West Coast.
Traffic signals will manage traffic through Mingha Bluff while the existing road is connected to the new alignment closer to the railway line. Slip stabilisation work starts on the 6 January, reducing a section of SH73, just east of Arthur’s Pass, to one lane for several months. This will result in short delays for drivers.
In addition to this work, the extra 15 – 20 minutes travel time recommended by the Transport Agency for Christchurch to West Coast trips journeys over the next few months, also allows for delays associated with shorter term road works on SH73 on both the Canterbury and West Coast side of the Pass.
View the latest news on these delays and the project, or phone 0800 494949.
Until now, most of the work on the Mingha Bluff Realignment Project has been out-of-sight, below road level. The contracting teams are now working closer to the existing road and making good progress on several fronts.
Installation of several culverts under the railway line adjacent to the highway has begun, along with construction of the Mingha Bluff retaining wall.