'Horrendous' Ladies Mile traffic down to slow drivers, NZTA says

Overnight roadworks left commuter chaos is their wake this morning.

Crux was bombarded with disgruntled motorists travelling between Lake Hayes, Queenstown on Ladies Mile, one describing the situation as a "horrendous" traffic jam.

Crux understands students at Queenstown Primary School were 50 minutes late because their bus has trouble with the traffic jam.

One motorist, who spoke to Crux actually gave up trying to get to work.

“I tried to leave Lake Hayes Estate at 7.45am, the traffic was backed up to Nervin square at that time and I moved 50m in 30 minutes, at which point, I turned around and went home. 

“I work out in Gibbston and tried again at 10.15am, the estate was clear but the main road was still backed up.”

An NZTA spokesperson told Crux the issue was partly because of people slowing to15kmn when they didn’t need to.

“It is a 50kmh area daytimes, but the team is doing what they can to improve the situation.

“NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) is reconstructing the Tucker Beach Road intersection near the Shotover River.

“The SH6 milling and asphalting is being carried out at night over a fortnight – Sunday, 26 January to Thursday, 6 February, 8 pm to 6 am – to minimise daytime delays and disruptions.

"We acknowledge that traffic has been slow with tail backs around this site in recent days and particularly today, despite the team on site amending the temporary traffic management as much as they are able to do so. 

"School starting back this week and extra visitors around the Waitangi Day holiday are other factors which have tipped the delays today beyond what we would normally anticipate."

NZTA Otago system manager Chris Harris said the site is not active during the day and has a temporary speed limit of 50kmh, but drivers  slowing down to around 15kmh created "a ripple effect" back towards Lake Hayes.

"The site has been left with ramps during the day to facilitate a 50kmh travel speed.

"This slower travel speed through the Tucker Beach Road intersection has exacerbated an existing challenge during the morning peak. With lower traffic volumes travelling east on SH6 away from Queenstown, traffic exiting Lower Shotover Road at the Stalker Road roundabout has priority over traffic travelling west on SH6 towards Queenstown and exiting Stalker Rd/Shotover Country, causing a tail back on those two approaches.

"Paving works will be completed Tuesday night  (subject to weather) leaving a smooth surface, then one further day of the 50kmh temporary speed limit prior to line-marking on Wednesday night  to complete the project in time for Waitangi Day.

"The temporary speed limit and road cones will still be present until marking is complete later this week."

Further roadworks are also planned.

“Work will start on the Humphrey St intersection, near the Kawarau River, from Sunday, February 9 to Friday, February 21 also for a fortnight overnight – 8 pm to 6 am.

“Given the residential housing around this site, crews will be doing their best to reduce any vibrations or noise. The road pavement in this area has now reached the end of its serviceable life and given the increasing traffic volumes, the new pavement mix will be stronger than the existing material.

"Crews will be working Sunday – Thursday nights with Friday and Saturday nights off. Work is weather dependent so if it rains, it will be pushed out for that night. Drivers will need to factor in some extra time for the stop/go operation.  The site will operate under a reduced speed limit of 30km/hour during the daytime.

“NZTA thanks all wider Queenstown drivers for their patience while these worn-out pieces of highway are replaced and work continues at the entrance to the town.”

Main image (Supplied): Traffic jams this morning between Lake Hayes and Queenstown.