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Marlborough Roads Recovery Update |
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19 February 2026 |
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This Week's Summary |
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This week construction continued across the Marlborough Roads Recovery network in the Awatere, French Pass, Kenepuru, Northbank, Port Underwood and on Queen Charlotte Drive. Construction closures are in place on Kenepuru, Archers and Northbank roads. From Wednesday 25 February until Friday 10 April, a construction closure will be in place on Torea Road. From Wednesday 4 March, the existing Kenepuru Road closure will relocate to the Mahau Road intersection and finish at Portage Bay. Night closures will be in place on Ronga Road from Sunday 8 March until Saturday 14 March. --------------------------------------------------- On Awatere Valley Road, drainage improvements continue near the Upcot Saddle under stop/go traffic management. Work is underway at six sites in the French Pass to complete road stabilisation, drainage improvements and retreats. These sites are located on Croisilles Road, Croisilles-French Pass Road, and in Tennyson Inlet. In the Kenepuru, between Linkwater and the Heads, construction is currently located at:
Approximately 17km from the start of Northbank Road, crews continue to excavate from above the slip under a road closure. On Port Underwood Road, work has resumed on a retaining wall, approximately 1.5km past McCormicks Road. Crews have established on Moenui Road to complete multiple drainage repairs. All work is subject to weather and other unforeseen circumstances. In the event of unsuitable conditions, work will be rescheduled to the next suitable workday. Continue reading for information on:
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Upcoming Road Closures |
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Torea Road From Wednesday 25 February until Friday 10 April, a construction closure will be in place on Torea Road in the Kenepuru. During this time crews will install a culvert and begin work on a retaining wall. The construction closure will be in place on weekdays at the following times:
Outside of these times no traffic management will be in place. --------------------------------------------------- Kenepuru Road closure - extension From Wednesday 4 March, the closure in place on Kenepuru Road will be relocating to start from the Mahau Road intersection and finish at Portage Bay (see map below for the closure location). This change is due to the completion of works at Ohingaroa Bay and works starting at a new site near Portage Bay. The existing closure days and times will apply:
This closure continues to allow multiple road repairs to be completed concurrently and safely. Gates will be in place at each end of the closure and at working sites. Outside of the closure times stop/go traffic management may be in place with delays of up to 15 minutes. Traffic management will ensure that vehicles do not get stuck between closure points during the opening times. For the 3pm opening on Mondays to Thursdays vehicles must be waiting at the closure gates no later than 3.04pm to be safely escorted through by a tail vehicle. It is important to stay within the convoy, as any vehicles that stop or pull over will unfortunately be stuck within the closure until 5pm. -------------------------------------------------- Ronga and Croisilles roads - night works From Sunday 8 March, night closures are required for a road retreat, culvert replacements and pavement reconstruction on Ronga and Croisilles road. The works will be located approximately 11.5km from the SH6 turnoff on Ronga Road for 4km towards Okiwi Bay. The closures will be in place from 6pm to 4.30am for six nights from Sunday 8 March until Saturday 14 March. Works are scheduled to be completed at 4.30am on Saturday 14 March. Outside of these times stop/go traffic management will be in place with delays of up to 15 minutes. Due to the location of these works and the narrowness of the road, a road closure is required. -------------------------------------------------- To view current closure locations, please visit the CDEM map. Changes to planned road closures will be sent via Antenno. Sign up to Antenno here. If you have any concerns, please contact recovery@marlboroughroads.com. |
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Kenepuru Road closure location from Wednesday 4 March |
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Awatere Valley Road |
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Work is continuing on Awatere Valley Road at the Upcot Saddle to complete culvert replacements and other drainage improvements. This site is under stop/go traffic management with delays of up to 15 minutes. |
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French Pass |
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This week crews have established at two sites, approximately 11km up Ronga Road and 1.7km up Croisilles Road to begin retreat work. On Croisilles Road approximately 4.2km before the Hope Drive/Wharf Road intersection crews continue to drill and grout anchors. Next week they will be installing the ground beam. Approximately 1.5km before the Hope Drive/Wharf Road, crews have returned to site to rebuild the pavement and construct the drain outlet. --------------------------------------------------- On Croisilles-French Pass Road, crews are reconstructing a culvert headwall approximately 13km past Okiwi Bay. This week crews have established at another two sites on Croisilles-French Pass Road approximately 3.5km, and 1.7km before the Elaine Bay Road turn-off for road retreats and a culvert installation. --------------------------------------------------- All sites in the French Pass are under stop/go traffic management with delays of up to 15 minutes. |
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Anchor drilling on Croisilles Road |
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Kenepuru |
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A construction closure is in place on Kenepuru Road from Ohingaroa Bay to "Watertank Slip", for approximately 14km, until Tuesday 3 March. The closure is in place on the following days and times:
This closure allows multiple road repairs to be completed concurrently and safely. Gates are in place at each end of the closure and at working sites. Outside of the closure times stop/go traffic management may be in place with delays of up to 15 minutes. Traffic management will ensure that vehicles do not get stuck between closure points during the opening times. For the 3pm opening on Mondays to Thursdays vehicles must be waiting at the closure gates no later than 3.04pm to be safely escorted through by a tail vehicle. It is important to stay within the convoy, as any vehicles that stop or pull over will unfortunately be stuck within the closure until 5pm. This week road sealing has been completed at seven sites within the closure including:
Please refer to the image below for the locations of sites within the closure this week. Next week within the closure area, works will include retreat excavation, culvert installation and retaining wall construction. --------------------------------------------------- On Moetapu Bay Road, approximately 1.3km from the start of the road, crews are installing a third culvert. At a second site, approximately 4.3km from the start of the road crews are progressing under slip repairs. Both sites on Moetapu Bay Road are under stop/go traffic management. --------------------------------------------------- On Kenepuru Road, near Portage Bay, approximately 1.5km prior to Portage Resort, pavement preparation is underway, and crews continue the retreat excavation. This site is under traffic lights with delays of up to 15 minutes. On Torea Road, crews have begun installing a culvert with retaining wall construction to start next week. This site is currently under traffic lights with delays of up to 15 minutes. From Wednesday 25 February, the site will move under a closure. Please see the upcoming road closures section for more information. |
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Current Kenepuru Road closure and site locations |
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Pavement preparation on Kenepuru Road |
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Compacting behind a retaining wall on Kenepuru Road |
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Northbank |
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Work continues approximately 17km from the start of Northbank Road to clear a large slip. Crews are now excavating from a second bench above the road. The construction closure is in place until Saturday 14 March on the following days and times:
Due to the narrow roadway, no bypass is available. Please plan your travel around the scheduled closure times. Outside of these times unattended traffic lights will remain in place. Expect delays of up to five minutes. --------------------------------------------------- Work continues on the replacement of the Gillespie Bridge on Cat Creek Road. This week crews are progressing the piling foundations for the bridge abutments. |
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Gillespies Bridge piling foundations on Cat Creek Road |
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Port Underwood |
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On Port Underwood Road, crews have resumed work on the railway iron retaining wall, approximately 1.5km past McCormicks Road. This week they are completing the pavement reinstatement and sealing the road. This site is under stop/go traffic management with minor delays. Next week crews will establish on Port Underwood Road at Tom Caines Bay to install a culvert. This site will also be under stop/go traffic management with minor delays. |
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Queen Charlotte Drive |
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On Queen Charlotte Drive, approximately 4.2km from Havelock crews have completed a concrete dish channel and installed a second culvert. They have now moved on to Moenui Road to complete multiple drainage repairs. This site is under stop/go traffic management with delays of up to 15 minutes. |
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Tennyson Inlet |
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A construction closure continues on Archers Road, Tennyson Inlet, approximately 1km from the start of the road to complete two road retreats and a retaining wall. This week crews are pouring the concrete channel, continuing the retreat excavation, and installing a new culvert. The closure is in place for all traffic until late-March on the below days and times:
There will be no traffic management in place outside of these closure times, however road users should take care driving through this site due to the narrowness of the road. --------------------------------------------------- Bridge abutment repairs are also being completed this week, approximately 250m from the start of the road. |
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Aerial view of the road retreat on Archers Road |
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Kenepuru Road restrictions |
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Kenepuru Road is open to the public, with overweight and overlength vehicle restrictions in place. Reduced speed limit signage and temporary traffic lights are in place at Portage Heights and approximately 500m beyond Nikau Cove (when travelling from Portage). Both sites have a 30km temporary speed limit in place. Please expect minor delays and follow all traffic management signage. Vehicle restrictions remain on Kenepuru Road from Linkwater to the Heads as follows: Vehicle RestrictionsVehicles up to 12.6m in length, and 6 tonne in weight can travel on Kenepuru Road and side roads. To apply for a permit for an over dimension vehicle to travel on Kenepuru Road, email recovery@marlboroughroads.com or call 0800 213 213. There are the following hazards on this section of Kenepuru Road and its side roads including Moetapu Bay Road:
Other recovery roadsPlease be aware that on all roads, works may be in progress and/or traffic management in place. Please expect delays and follow all signage and traffic management. Heavy rain may lead to roads being closed at short notice. Regardless of the status of the road, please drive to the conditions. To check the status of a road before you travel, please visit the CDEM Map. |
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Further Information |
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Marlborough Roads 0800 213 213, between 9.00am - 4.00pm, 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 recovery@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, 28 Alfred Street, Blenheim on MRoadsadmin@nzta.govt.nz |
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