Fiordland's Homer Tunnel has now had it's 70-year old avalanche shelter demolished, in preparation for a new 45-metre avalanche and rockfall shelter to be built on its eastern side.

An artist's impression of the new eastern entrance to the Homer Tunnel. Photo: NZTA

The Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency project is part of a $29 million Government funded upgrade started in 2021, to bring the Milford Road infrastructure up to modern safety standards after a vehicle fire in the tunnel in 2019.

Hundreds of thousands of visitors pass through the Homer Tunnel each year, via SH94 (Milford Road), on their way to Piopiotahi Milford Sound from the tourist towns of Te Anau and Queenstown.

The route is also an important access point for commercial fishing businesses.

Improvements completed so far have included upgrades to the tunnel's power, lighting, public address and cabling systems, as well as installing new in-tunnel vehicle detectors and safety barriers.

Work on the new shelter, including the construction and transportation of 150 re-cast concrete modules, is expected to take place from November in order to avoid the alpine regions most extreme weather conditions.

The shelters completion date is expected to be May 2024.