Upgrading of safety aspects in the Homer Tunnel and repairing flood damage to state highway 94 and the Hollyford Road is progressing as planned according to Milford Road Alliance Manager, Kevin Thompson.

The tunnel was earmarked last for a $25 million safety upgrade last following a vehicle fire in the tunnel that occurred in January 2019.

The project has been split into two parts and the current work received $3 million in funding from the government in an initiative to kick start ‘shovel ready’ projects in its response to the economic disruption following the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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The first part of the project has included installation of an upgraded power and lighting system and fitting specially designed speakers inside the tunnel, which will give the road operator the ability to communicate with people caught there in an emergency.

A new protected duct is also being built along the entire 1.2km off the tunnel to protect cables, fibre and other systems during a fire.

Over the next few months, an extra lane will be built at the eastern portal traffic signal, where vehicles queue before entering the tunnel, designed to provide better traffic management particularly during winter, and a more sophisticated in-tunnel vehicle detection system.

Mr Thompson said work has brought economic benefits to the region with an influx of workers and through engaging local suppliers and trades.

The second part of the project is currently being scoped and is likely to include pedestrian refuges to be used in the event of a fire and a forced ventilation system or a deluge water system to control and reduce fire in the tunnel.

Once the decision has been made on the best systems to include, a design concepts and approvals process will follow and the whole project is expected to be delivered over the next two or three years.

Work is also progressing on repairing the flood damaged Milford and Hollyford Roads.

Repairs to the Milford Road near the Hollyford turnoff. PHOTO: Supplied

Significant damage to both roads was caused by a severe storm in the region a year ago.

Eight million dollars is being spend on reinstating State Highway 94 between the Hollyford turnoff and Milford Sound with one of the bigger and more challenging jobs repairing a large retaining wall that supports the highway near the Hollyford turnoff and the repair work will continue over the next few months.

A further $2 million has been allocated to reinstate the 16km Hollyford Road, which cut access to the Hollyford Valley in the same flood event.

Girder Creek on the Hollyford Road before repairs (above) and after (below). PHOTOS: Supplied

The first 13km of the 16km road was opened to traffic in December and people are able to walk the remaining 3km at the moment.

The plan is to carry out work on the last few kilometres when the Hollyford River is likely to be at its lowest between February and April.

Despite the devastating economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has had on the region, Mr Thompson said they had experienced an unexpected benefit because the reduced traffic flow has enabled the work to be carried out with very little disruption.

He said they had recorded just a quarter of the traffic they would normally expect at this time of year.