With abseiling crews reducing rockfall hazards on West Coast rock faces currently, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) has a new calendar reminder for Buller people and travellers in and out of Westport.

From Wednesday to Friday inclusive, 30 April to 2 May, crews will be working at the Fern Arch on SH6 with delays for travellers from 8 am to 5 pm. “Drivers will be allowed under the Fern Arch at the top of each hour,” says Moira Whinham, Maintenance Contract Manager for NZTA on the West Coast.

Traffic will be queued either side of the work site for up to 50 minutes or so during those three days, she says. NZTA thanks all Buller travellers for factoring these delays into their journeys on these three days.

The Fern Arch is in the Lower Buller Gorge west of Berlins and has been single lane, controlled with traffic signals, for some time.

• The work is weather dependent, so if it is wet, it could be rescheduled to the following week.
• The detour route into Westport via the SH6 Coast Road and Greymouth would take longer than the 50 minute or so wait at the Fern Arch so is unlikely to be useful to drivers.
• Updates on West Coast highway delays here: https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/highway-conditions/west-coast

© Scoop Media