This Week's Summary

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

Please note the road closures on Queen Charlotte Drive resumed (approximately 1.7km from the SH6/Havelock turnoff for 300m) near Cullen Point, Mahakipawa Hill. These closures are on weekdays for a two to three week period. 

Road closures are also scheduled on Tuesday 27 February and Wednesday 28 February for Northbank Road (approximately 35.7km from the SH6 turnoff).

Please see the road closure section for more details on these closure. 

In addition to the above, there will  be increased works along the length of Queen Charlotte Drive during February. It will be especially busy the week beginning Monday 19 February.

Works on Queen Charlotte Drive include the installation of a new culvert near Moenui Road, the constuction of a retaining wall 450m past Aussie Bay, and road realignment and slip repairs at Governers Bay. 

Works are continuing on Kenepuru Road this week with the installation of a new rail iron wall, approximately 3km past Portage.

Sealing works are scheduled on Port Underwood Road for late next week. 

Rock protection works are continuing on Northbank Road, 22km from the SH6 turnoff. 

Next week, works are planned to install culverts from Ronga Road on Tuesday 20 February.

Keep reading for information on:

• Road Closures
• Kenepuru Road Restrictions
• Other Road Restrictions
• Resident Definition
• Awatere Valley Road
• Duncan Bay 
• French Pass
• Kenepuru
• Northbank
• Queen Charlotte Drive
• Ward

Road Closures

Queen Charlotte Drive (approximately 1.7km from the SH6 turnoff) for 300m near Cullen Point, Mahakipawa Hill.

• From Tuesday 13 February, for a two to three week period, during weekdays, from 9.00am to 3.00pm, openings will be on the hour, every hour to clear waiting traffic. 

Northbank Road - (approximately 35.7km from the SH6 turnoff).

• On Tuesday 27 February and Wednesday 28 February from 8.00am to 5.00pm, with a lunchtime opening between 12.30pm to 1.00pm.

Outside of the above closures, the sites will be under stop/go traffic management.

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. 

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 means residents can access boat launching areas at Double Bay Reserve, Torea, Portage and along Mahau Road.

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 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.

The following restrictions 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.
• On Kenepuru Road to the Heads, Torea Road, Mahau Road and Moetapu Bay Road to Double Bay Reserve, no vehicles over 12.6m in length or 6 tonne in weight. 

On all side roads off Kenepuru Road to the Heads, excluding Torea Road, Mahau Road and Moetapu Bay Road to Double Bay Reserve, no vehicles more than 8 metres in length or 3.5 tonne.

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 Moetapu Bay Road;

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

Other Road Restrictions

Queen Charlotte Drive is open to all vehicles less than 12.6m. Vehicles over 12.6m must obtain a permit to drive on Queen Charlotte Drive. These permits can be obtained by emailing the Marlborough Roads NZTA office on MRoadsadmin@nzta.govt.nz.

Please note there is no longer a requirement for vehicles over 12.6m to be piloted on Queen Charlotte Drive. 

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 Civil Defence Emergency Map.

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. 

Awatere Valley Road

Last week, the construction of gabion baskets and sealing preparations were completed on Awatere Valley Road, approximately 2.2km from the Medway Road turnoff, when travelling up the valley. Sealing and the construction of an asphalt bund has also been carried out this week at this location. 

Debris was removed last week from the Limestone slip site on Awatere Valley Road. 

Repair works continued this week on the Jordan Bridge pier. 

Marlborough District Council started watermain upgrades prior to Christmas on Awatere Valley Road between Nina Brook Bridge (approximately 7km from the start of the road) and Taylor Pass Road. These works are planned to run until end of March 2024. 

The above works will be undertaken under stop/go traffic management, please expect delays.

Rock placed around a Jordan Bridge pier for scour protection

Duncan Bay

Last week sealing works were undertaken on Duncan Bay Road, 2.1km from the turnoff. This site has now been completed.

Sealing works at Duncan Bay 

Aerial view of sealing works being undertaken at Duncan Bay

French Pass

Sealing of the site on Crosillies Road, approximately 4.8km before the Okiwi Bay township was undertaken last week. Works at this site are now completed. 

Crews will be establishing onsite on Monday 19 February to carry out culvert replacement works, these works are scheduled to begin on Ronga Road on Tuesday 20 February, these works will be under stop/go traffic management. 

Sealing works have been undertaken this week in the French Pass. These works will be under stop/go traffic management and delays of up to 15 minutes are expected at some of these sites. 

Works for the new boat ramp in French Pass township are  now planned for late June 2024 (not March as previously stated). This will allow crews to work in with tide times. More information will be shared in this update once the dates are confirmed.

Kenepuru Road

A scour repair was carried out last week approximately 1km past Onahau Road. 

Works are continuing at RP32, approximately 3km from Portage on repairing a retaining wall and installing a new culvert. 

Works are scheduled for next week on Kenepuru Road to repair a retaining wall and replace a culvert, prior to Portage, 28.5km from the Queen Charlotte Drive turnoff. 

The above works are planned to be under stop/go traffic management.

A rail iron retaining wall under construction on Kenepuru Road, 3km from Portage 

Northbank

A culvert replacement and road closures are scheduled on Northbank Road approximately 35.7km from the SH6 turnoff.

The road closures will be in place on Tuesday 27 February and Wednesday 28 February 8.00am to 5.00pm at the above location, openings will be between 12.30pm to 1.00pm.

Rock protection works and reinstatement of the carriageway was carried out last week and continued this week on Northbank Road, 22km from the SH6 turnoff. These works are planned to continue next week at this location. 

Riverbank protection works on Northbank Road 

Queen Charlotte Drive

Works started last week on the construction of a MSE (Mechanically Stabilised Earth) wall, along with associated drainage upgrades on Queen Charlotte Drive near Cullen Point, Mahakipawa Hill. 

The road closure resumed this week near Cullen Point, Mahakipawa Hill, approximately 1.7km from the SH6 turnoff for 300m. The closure will be in place for a two to three week period, during weekdays, from 9.00am to 3.00pm. Openings will be on the hour, every hour to clear waiting traffic.

Outside of these times, works will continue under stop/go traffic management, please expect delays.

In addition to the above closures, there will also be increased works along the length of Queen Charlotte Drive during February with multiple recovery sites under construction.

Sealing works are also planned on Queen Charlotte Drive the week of Monday 19 February. These works will be under stop/go traffic management and delays of up to 15 minutes are expected at some of these sites. 

Road users are advised to use the SH1/SH6 inland route during this period to avoid delays, where possible.

Works to install a new culvert and repair the carriageway are continuing, just prior to Moenui Road (when travelling from Havelock). Last week vegetation was cleared and a diversion created for stream water. This week excavation will take place down stream and further preparation will continue for the culvert installation next week, these works are under stop/go traffic management.

Works to realign the road and repair a slip have begun 70m past Governers Bay when travelling towards Picton. 

Timber lagging and drainage works began last week at a new retaining wall site, 450m past Aussie Bay. This week backfilling, drainage and timber lagging works have been undertaken. Culvert installation works and road preparation will continue at this site next week, along with backfilling.

In the coming weeks, railway iron walls are scheduled to be constructed on Queen Charlotte Drive at three sites. Two walls are planned approximately 2km past Tepuia Heights, and one 450m before Moenui Road, when travelling towards Picton.

These sites are under stop/go traffic management. Please note there will be increased truck movements while these works are being carried out. Please plan ahead for delays.

Site clearance works in preparation for a new box culvert at Moenui 

Timber lagging installed at the Aussie Bay retaining wall 

Ward

Riverbank works started last week on Ure Road, two sections are to be completed, the first being approximately 4.7km from the SH1 turnoff. 

Once the first section is completed, crews will move to the next section, approximately 7.7km from the SH1 turnoff. 

More Information

If you require welfare support contact recovery@marlborough.govt.nz or phone Council on 03 520 7400.

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. 

Phone: 0800 213 213 or 03 520 8024, between 8.00am - 5.00pm, Monday to Friday.

Email: recovery@marlboroughroads.com