NZTA performance manager Pete Connors said people who attended six recent community and tourist industry meetings on the West Coast and in Central Otago had given the NZTA a clear message they wanted the opening hours for State Highway 6, from Haast to Makarora, extended.
The road will now be open at the Diana Falls site from 8am to 7pm, meaning motorists will be able to leave Haast township at 7am and Makarora at 7.30am, to be travelling through the area at 8am, rather than 9am as was the case previously.
Mr Connors said the extra hour was important for freight movement and for enabling West Coasters, in particular, to travel through to Central Otago for business or shopping and return in the same day.
The road will also be open at Diana Falls until 7pm rather than the previous 6pm closing.
''This will enable travellers to take advantage of the longer summer evenings before relocating to either Haast township or the glaciers or to Makarora or Wanaka before the road is closed overnight.''
The road will close at Haast township at 6pm and Makarora at 6.30pm, giving travellers time to travel to and through the Diana Falls slip area before the 7pm closure.
Night-time closures are expected to remain until permanent slip protection works can be installed from April-May next year.
Mr Connors said in extending the opening hours it was possible day-time closures would be introduced to enable work to be carried out.
''For the last few weeks, we have been managing the site with short 20-minute delays throughout the day. This will continue in the interim as it has been working well.
''If we need to introduce longer day-time closures, we will work with the local communities and tourist industry to determine the best time for minimal disruption and we will ensure everyone knows well in advance about what is happening.''
