Global award for Milford Road Alliance

20/11/2023

Team maintaining majestic road to Milford Sound win global award

Congratulations to the Milford Road Alliance, winners of the International Road Federation’s 2023 Global Road Achievement Award for Programme Management!

The awards recognise innovative projects and exemplary people in the worlds road industry – a true showcase of industry leaders.

The Milford Road Alliance (the Alliance) is responsible for maintaining the gateway to New Zealand’s tourism crown jewel – the only road into and out of the majestic Milford Sound. An innovative partnership sees Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency and Downer manage a significant programme of work within a protected national park and UNESCO World Heritage Area, ensuring the one road into and out of Milford Sound is safe, resilient and accessible for the almost 1,000,000 tourists the area welcomes annually.

Vanessa Browne, the Project Alliance Board chair, aptly captures the essence of the programme, "Waka Kotahi and Downer New Zealand are true programme partners. When we step onto the Milford Road, we leave our organisation at the door so we can wholeheartedly form the Alliance." This statement summarises the spirit of the Alliance’s remarkable journey.

Dedication to the safety and wellbeing of those who traverse the Milford Road is unwavering at the Alliance. Nestled within an alpine environment which is prone to avalanches and rock fall, the Milford Road must be managed to the highest standard to prevent harm to unsuspecting travellers. Through harnessing high performance and effective programme management, the Alliance boasts an outstanding safety record with a low Total Recordable Injury Frequency Rate of zero for the past 12 months.

Milford Road Alliance is a significant infrastructure programme. In addition to avalanche and rock fall prevention, the Alliance manages numerous complexities including the historic, one-lane Homer Tunnel which provides the only vehicle access to the Milford Sound, the requirement to keep the road open as much as possible while maintaining consistent standards, environmental considerations, and the need for Alliance staff to act as first responders to emergency situations. Evidence demonstrates that Milford Alliance manages these numerous complexities well and delivers an excellent program.

To achieve true high performance, the Alliance is committed to a long-term program model. Called an ‘evergreen alliance’, the unique model requires long-term notice for either party to end the partnership and recognises the high-value, specialist nature of the Alliance team. The evergreen model enables the program with certainty, fostering confidence and investment.

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 aplenty, the Alliance provides excellent opportunities for replication. This is particularly evident in the Alliance’s development and use of avalanche detection technology and the in-house development of bespoke and innovative tools.

The Alliance is not a simple infrastructure programme. It is world class and a testament to human ingenuity, team resilience, and high-performing collaboration. The Milford Road Alliance continues to deliver a programme to maintain one of the world's most sought-after natural attractions and ensure explorers for generations to come can safely undertake the epic journey.

“The Milford Road Alliance is not just a partnership; it is a symbol of what can be achieved when passion and expertise converge on a grand scale. Being recognised at the Global Road Achievement Awards is incredible for us as a team – it recognises the hard work, passion, and specialist skills of our exemplary team.” Kevin Thompson, Milford Alliance Manager