Road closure for State Highway 6 for emergency repairs

Closure from 1 November to 18 December 2022

8 November 2022

Emergency repairs underway

On Tuesday 1 November, emergency repairs began on State Highway 6 between Hira and before the Rai Valley township.

The repairs started with excavation of four sites, where crews have removed the unstable ground at the four underslips. At the end of the week, drilling for the retaining wall anchors commenced. 

At Site One due to the size of the wall and washout, almost all the original road width has been excavated. The road has been pushed over into the hillside, making this section virtually impassable until the road is rebuilt. 

Excavation on Site Two, a very deep and steep site, has started. There is some road width at this site, which helps the crews get past to access Site One. Having the road closed has meant the crews have been able to accelerate the earthworks by using full size articulated dump trucks without the added risk and delay from having to stop and start to allow public vehicles through. It has also made it safer and quicker for the crew’s trucks to turn around.

Site Three has been excavated and drilling started towards the end of last week. After drilling is completed, the crew will start on getting reinforced steel ready to place at the base of the wall.

All of the crews have been working hard, and Site Four has also had excavation completed. This is the most challenging site with steep terrain. Like Site One, there is only a narrow section of road left that lacks foundational support due to the amount of road that has been cut away. With heavy rain forecast for last Wednesday the team protected the fresh excavation by covering it with black polyethylene. Driling for piles started on Thursday last week. 

Crews are working on the road seven days a week. Work is being done predominately during daylight hours. To speed the project’s progress, some work will be done at night. This is subject to resources, programming, and the health and safety of our crews.

Images of the work sites

Below are the images of each of the work sites, from Site One to Site Four. 

Please note, the photos do not show all the crew and machinery that are actively using the site. 

Road closure points

Barriers have been installed at both ends of the closure, which is just beyond Ross Road at the Hira end, and just past REM Engineering at the Rai Valley end.

The map below shows the closure points. Access is open to Okiwi Bay and Opouri Saddle via Ronga Road.

To travel directly to Nelson or Blenheim, you will need to take a detour via State Highway 63 (SH63) and Saint Arnaud. Our recommendation of the detour route is to remain on the state highways as they are safer and more suited to higher traffic volumes and all vehicle types This is a longer journey, so factor more time into your travels.

SH6 is open until the Rai Valley township. You can still travel to Pelorus, Havelock, and Rai Valley using State Highway 6. You will not be able to go to Nelson after Rai Valley as the road is closed.

Use our Journey Planner and get up to date travel information, visit journeys.nzta.govt.nz

For information about French Pass and other local roads in the Marlborough area, view MDCs CDEM map https://marlborough.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=7de480b8bfa541e0a73719bfc893c41d

Support

If you have been impacted by the SH6 closure, you may be eligible for support from the Nelson Mayoral Relief Fund. For details of the eligibility requirements and how to apply, visit https://shape.nelson.govt.nz/mayor-relief-fund

Nelson City Council have also set up a single point of contact with a ‘recovery navigator’ role. You can contact the Nelson City Council’s recovery navigator on 03 546 0200 or email navigator@ncc.govt.nz

Marlborough District Council has a similar recovery navigator role, and you can contact them at recovery@marlborough.govt.nz