Springs Junction

Springs Junction is a significant road junction in New Zealand that connects two major highways, State Highway 7 and State Highway 65 (the Shenandoah Highway).[1]

Springs Junction
Approaching the junction from the West Coast along State Highway 7
Location
Springs Junction, New Zealand
Coordinates42.334618°S 172.181816°E / -42.334618; 172.181816
Roads at
junction		State Highway 7
State Highway 65
Construction
TypeThree-way junction

State Highway 7 runs between Canterbury and the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island.

State Highway 65 heads north from the junction along the Maruia River and forms part of the main route between Christchurch and Nelson.

Springs Junction is also the name of the small settlement close to the junction.[1] It includes a petrol station, a café and some houses.

The petrol station at Springs Junction.
The café at Springs Junction.

Geography

Springs Junction lies on the Alpine Fault.[2]

16 km to the east is the thermal resort of Maruia Springs.[1] 6.5 km to the east is the DOC Marble Hill campsite[3]

The closest main town is Reefton 45 km to the west.[4]

At Springs Junction is a site where geologists have dug trenches to study past earthquakes along the Alpine Fault.[5]Springs Junction has seen a major increase in traffic flows[6] [7] since the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake. This earthquake closed the main State Highway 1 route and Springs Junction is on the alternative route from Picton to Christchurch.[8] The New Zealand Transport Agency expects the volume of traffic to quadruple while the State Highway 1 route undergoes months of repairs.[9]

Panoramic view of Springs Junction settlement.

Notable people

Daniel White (born 1992),[10] author of Halfstone: A Tale of the Narathlands[11]

References
  1. "Story: West Coast places". Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand.
  2. "Alpine Fault moves more than any other known land fault in the world". Stuff. 8 March 2016. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  3. "Marble Hill Campsite". Department of Conservation.
  4. "New Zealand: Hanmer Springs & Lewis Pass". TripAdvisor New Zealand. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  5. "Scientists digging into new part of South Island's Alpine Fault". Stuff. 24 January 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  6. "Interislander traffic pours over alpine passes". Otago Daily Times. 17 November 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  7. "An unexpected boon for Springs Junction after the Kaikoura Earthquake". New Zealand Herald. 29 December 2016. Retrieved 30 December 2016.
  8. "Alternative route between Christchurch and Picton established". Stuff. 14 November 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  9. "Traffic on SH7 expected to quadruple while SH1 is repaired". Stuff. 18 November 2016. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  10. "Busker writes a fantasy novel inspired by his alternative South Island childhood". Stuff. 16 August 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  11. "Halfstone: A Tale of the Narathlands". Amazon.
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