A decades old power line degraded to the point it caused widespread power outages and shut down the highway into Queenstown late last month.
Photo: 123RF
Shotover Bridge was temporarily closed after power lines came down across it on 23 July causing significant traffic delays.
Local power network company Aurora Energy said the power line was initially installed in 1962.
Inspection of the power line showed it had previously been damaged and continued to degrade over time before eventually failing, the spokesperson said.
While the company has made temporary repairs, the power line will be replaced to bring it up to current design standards in August.
"The outage required to complete this work will be undertaken at a time to minimise the impact to both electricity supply and travel along State Highway 6," the spokesperson said.