Marlborough Roads Recovery Update

11 July 2024

This Weeks Summary

Kenepuru Road to the Heads, and its side roads remain restricted to residents, emergency and essential services.

One hour road closures are scheduled on Queen Charlotte Drive from the Moenui Road intersection for 500m towards Havelock, on 22 and  23 July from 9am to 3pm. Please see the road closure section for more information.  

Daltons Bridge, near Kaiuma Bay Road, is closed to all vehicles 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There is a diversion in place via Te Hoiere Road. Please see the road closure section for more information.

Multiple work sites on Queen Charlotte Drive between the mechanically stabilised earth (MSE) wall site near Cullen Point and Ngakuta Bay remain in place. Please factor more time into your travel plans and expect delays. Worksite locations include:

• The MSE wall near Cullen Point (approx 1.7km from SH6/Havelock turnoff).
• The installation of a new culvert near Moenui Road.
• The construction of a retaining wall 450m past Aussie Bay when travelling towards Picton.
• The construction of a retaining wall, 1.3km prior to Ngakuta Bay when travelling towards Picton.

Works at the above locations are under stop/go traffic management, please expect delays.

Construction of a new retaining wall just prior to Portage on Kenepuru Road will continue this week.

Work to build a new bridge, upstream of the current temporary bailey bridge on Waihopai Valley Road is underway.

Please ensure you keep to the reduced temporary speed limits when travelling through worksites to ensure the safety of our crews and road users. We thank you for your patience.

When walking near or through our worksites, please keep animals on a leash.

Keep reading for information on:

• Road Closures
• Kenepuru Road Restrictions
• Other Road Restrictions
• Kenepuru Road
• Northbank
• Pelorus
• Queen Charlotte Drive
• Waihopai Valley
   

Road Closures

Queen Charlotte Drive

Queen Charlotte Drive, from the Moenui Road intersection for 500m towards Havelock, will be closed on Monday 22 and Tuesday 23 July. 

The closure is scheduled from 9am to 3pm with openings on the hour, every hour to clear waiting traffic.

Work at the site, outside of these times will be under stop/go traffic management.

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Daltons Bridge, Pelorus

Daltons Bridge is closed to all traffic to allow for bridge abutment repairs. This closure is in place 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. A detour is in place via Te Hoiere Road for all traffic.

These works are expected to take approximately 6 weeks.

Kenepuru Road Restrictions

Kenepuru Road to the Heads, and its side roads remain restricted to residents, emergency and essential services.

These roads have severe storm damage and entry into this section of Kenepuru Road is at resident and emergency or essential service drivers' discretion.

Extreme care should be exercised and daylight driving only is strongly recommended.

Vehicle Restrictions

Residents vehicles up to 12.6m in length, and 6 tonne in weight can travel on Kenepuru Road and the following side roads; Mahau Road, Torea Road and Moetapu Bay Road as far as Double Bay Reserve.

This allows residents access to boat launching areas at Double Bay Reserve, Torea and Portage.

On all other side roads, between Kenepuru Road to the Heads no vehicles over 8m in length or 3.5 tonne in weight are permitted.

The following restrictions also apply on this section of Kenepuru Road and it's side roads including Moetapu Bay Road;

• No campervans, vans or buses.
• Only 4WD and light vehicles.

Residents only are permitted to walk and cycle on the restricted access section of Kenepuru Road and Moetapu Bay Road.

There are the following hazards on this section of Kenepuru Road and its side roads including Moetapu Bay Road;

• Slips.
• Drop outs.
• Single lane in places.
• Increased hazard during rain.
• Uneven surfaces and gravel sections

MDC Subsidy for Water Taxi and Barge Services

The Marlborough District Council's barge subsidy is available for resident's vehicles that are outside these dimensions.

The Council's water taxi subsidy is available for residents, workers and visitors to areas in the Marlborough Sounds that were previously accessible by road.

For more information on the Council's transport subsidies visit their website.

For a full list of what is deemed an emergency or essential service visit the Council's website.

Resident Definition:

The definition of a resident, in terms of who is able to access roads restricted to resident and emergency services is;

A permanent resident, owner of a holiday home/bach, or the owner of a commercial interest.

It does not include visitors who are hiring or renting a holiday home or bach, where rental arrangements have been made through either a property letting agency or directly with the owner.

Other Road Restrictions

Anakiwa Road is open to vehicles less than 12.6m. Beyond Tirimoana Jetty, only light vehicles weighing less than 3.5 tonnes are allowed, unless by prior arrangement.

French Pass and Tennyson Inlet are accessible, but drivers should be aware that the road is narrower than usual in some sections.

Please be aware that on all roads, including those with public access, there may be areas of works and traffic management in place. Please expect delays and follow all signage and traffic management.

Heavy rain may lead to roads needing to be closed urgently. No matter the status of the road, drive to the conditions.

To check the status of a road before you travel, please visit the CDEM Map

Kenepuru Road

At the new retaining wall site on Kenepuru Road near Portage, works were carried out off-site last week to construct a new reinforcing cage for the ground beam.

This week preparations were made onsite for the ground beam concrete to be poured. This work is planned for next week. 

Bund clearance work was carried out this week between Tara Bay Road and The Heads.

Sealing was carried out this week on Kenepuru Road between Broughton Bay and Portage. Next week sealing is scheduled to be completed between Portage and The Heads.

All of the above works are weather permitting and will be carried out under stop/go traffic management between 7.30am and 5pm. Please plan ahead for minor delays.

Northbank

Work was undertaken on an existing culvert on Onamalutu Road this week. Crews cleared vegetation and prepared the headwall for the outlet and inlet.

Final sealing and road marking was undertaken on Northbank Road last week, 1.5km past the Fabians Valley Road turnoff. 

For your safety, and that of other road users please ensure you adhere to the traffic lights on Northbank Road, 17.5km from the start of the road. The lights are required due to unstable rock on the bluff and slopes at the site. The lights are positioned so that vehicles are stopped in low risk areas. We are regularly monitoring the lights to make sure they are operational. This is a complex site and our design and construction teams are working hard to find the most appropriate solution. Once the preferred option is selected, works will begin and the traffic lights will be removed.

Pelorus/Havelock

Daltons Bridge is closed to all traffic to allow for bridge abutment repairs. This closure is in place 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. A detour is in place via Te Hoiere Road for all traffic. These works are expected to take approximately 6 weeks to complete.

Rock revetment work was undertaken at Daltons Bridge to form the riverbank surrounding the bridge abutment. Next week crews are scheduled to start the construction of the MSE wall at this location.

Work at Kaiuma Bay Bridge to undertake scour protection, 2km prior to the Kaiuma Bay settlement scheduled to start this week, has been delayed to next week due to high river levels. These works will be carried out under stop/go traffic management.

Rock work and willow planting is scheduled for next week on Prices Road. 

Rock revetment work at Daltons Bridge

Queen Charlotte Drive

There are multiple recovery sites under construction along the length of Queen Charlotte Drive. Work at these sites is under stop/go traffic management, please expect delays.

Queen Charlotte Drive, from the Moenui Road intersection for 500m towards Havelock, will be closed on 22 and 23 July. The closure will be from 9am to 3pm with openings on the hour, every hour to clear waiting traffic.

Crews will be working on the retaining wall at this location. Outside of the closure times work will be under stop/go traffic management.

Crews continue work on the construction of a mechanically stabilised earth (MSE) wall from the base upwards on Queen Charlotte Drive (approximately 1.7km from the SH6/Havelock turnoff) near Cullen Point, Mahakipawa Hill. This week and next week, crews are working on the headwall for the culvert.

Work to install a new culvert and repair the road continues, just prior to Moenui Road when travelling from Havelock. This week anchoring for the downstream slope and mesh laying was undertaken. Next week work will continue with the installation of anchors and mesh on the downstream section of the culvert, along with carriageway reinstatement.

Last week backfilling was completed and carriageway reinstatement undertaken on the second retaining wall site, 450m past Aussie Bay. The site is nearing completion with a sight rail installed and surfacing work completed this week.

The construction of a retaining wall, 1.3km prior to Ngakuta Bay when travelling towards Picton continues. Crews are currently piling and drilling the H piles for the wall which will continue next week.

Please note there will be increased truck movements while work is being carried out. Please plan ahead for delays.

Please keep to the reduced temporary speed limits when you're travelling through our worksites to ensure the safety of crews and road users. We thank you for your patience.

Piling and drilling work near Ngakuta Bay 

Hand rail installed and mesh laid at the new wall near Aussie Bay

Reinforcing the foundation for the culvert pipe near Cullen Point 

Waihopai Valley

Crews have been working on the foundation piles at the new bridge on Waihopai Valley Road. 

The current bailey bridge will continue to operate as crews build the new bridge. Please expect increased activity around this area.

Further Information

Marlborough Roads 0800 213 213 or 03 520 8024, between 8.30am - 4.30pm, Monday to Friday.

For more information on the Marlborough Roads recovery project or to subscribe to this newsletter, contact us at recovery@marlboroughroads.com

Visit our webpage: www.nzta.govt.nz/marlborough-roads-recovery

For more information: 

For local roading alerts/updates go to Marlborough District Council's website

Sign up to the Antenno App to receive notifications on your phone.

Check the Civil Defence Emergency Management map for road access restrictions. 

If you require welfare support contact Marlborough District Council  on 03 520 7400 or email mdc@marlborough.govt.nz

If you require an overlength permit for vehicles over 12.6m to travel on Queen Charlotte Drive between Linkwater and Picton please email Marlborough Roads NZTA Office, 4 Market Street Blenheim on MRoadsadmin@nzta.govt.nz