All that hard work in the worst of conditions was worth it.
The Milford Road Alliance team has won international recognition.
The 25-strong team won the International Road Federation’s 2023 Global Road Achievement Award for programme management, handed out in Phoenix in the United States last month.
The team, mostly based in Te Anau, are a group of dedicated road maintenance workers and rockfall and avalanche specialists who work hard to keep the Milford Road open, allowing up to 1 million tourists to get to Milford Sound.
The team is made up of staff from Downer NZ and Waka Kotahi/NZ Transport Agency.
The Milford Road Alliance was formed in 2016 and manages a significant programme of work within the protected Fiordland National Park.
"For the past year, the Alliance has had an outstanding safety record with a low total recordable injury frequency rate of zero."
In addition to avalanche and rockfall prevention, the Alliance manages many complexities including the historic one-lane Homer Tunnel which provides the only vehicle access in and out, it is required to keep the road open as much as possible while maintaining consistent standards and environmental considerations. The staff can also act as first responders to emergency situations.
Trees were an issue and arborists were brought in for five weeks every year to handle the 87km of the 120km of highway surrounded by trees. That led to the number of trees falling across the road halving.
A team of avalanche forecasters ensured the safety of the road’s alpine area. The alpine area was a 20km stretch and was a main area of focus for the Alliance. Helicopters were used to gauge avalanche risks and if necessary avalanches were set off by the team to reduce the risk.
Weather stations were very important to help predict dangers.
Programme investment helps to ensure the Alliance’s ability to share knowledge widely across the industry, particularly for road agencies operating in alpine environments. With a dedicated in-house workshop and innovative solutions, the Alliance provides excellent learning opportunities, as shown in the development and use of avalanche detection technology.
Mr Thompson said the team was a real mix and all members brought talent to the team.
