This Week's Summary

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

There are road closures planned on Queen Charlotte Drive between the Picton Lookout and Shakespeare Bay from 8 to 19 April. Please see the road closure section for more information. 

Multiple work sites on Queen Charlotte Drive between the new MSE wall site near Cullen Point through to Governors Bay remain in place. Please factor more time into your travel plans and expect delays. Worksite locations include:

• MSE wall near Cullen Point (approx 1.7km from SH6/Havelock turnoff) 
• The installation of a new culvert near Moenui Road
• The installation of two railway iron walls approximately 1.9km and 2.1km past Tepuia Heights, when travelling towards Picton.
• Drainage upgrades and repair of a drop-out, 750m past The Grove Jetty when travelling towards Picton.
• The constuction of a retaining wall 450m past Aussie Bay when travelling towards Picton.
• Road realignment and slip repairs at Governors Bay. 

Works at the above locations are under stop/go traffic management.

On Wednesday 3 April, a road closure with openings on the hour, is planned to carry out maintenance works on the bailey bridge on Waihopai Valley Road, 30km from the SH63 turnoff. Please see the road closure section for more information. 

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.

Keep reading for information on:

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

Road Closures

Queen Charlotte Drive 

From 8 to 19 April, road closures are planned on Queen Charlotte Drive between the Picton Lookout and Shakespeare Bay at the following days/times:

• Monday to Friday
• 7am to 9am up to 10 minute delays
• 9am to 3pm openings on the hour, every hour to clear waiting traffic. 

Please be aware that it can take some time to clear the queues, so you may not travel through the site exactly on the hour. 

Waihopai Valley Road 

Wednesday 3 April, a road closure is planned to carry out maintenance works on Waihopai Bailey Bridge, 30km from the SH63 turnoff:

• 9am to 3pm with openings on the hour, every hour to clear waiting traffic.

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. 

French Pass

Works for the new boat ramp in French Pass township are now planned for late June 2024 (previously notified as March). 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

Works to build a new retaining wall just prior to Portage near the Torea Road intersection, on Kenepuru Road are planned to commence in early April. More information to follow.  

Northbank

Rock protection works was carried out last week on Northbank Road, 22km from the SH6 turnoff. Road reestablishment and chip sealing has been carried out this week as works near completion at this site. 

Gabion basket replacement, culvert repair works and the removal of debris have been carried out on Northbank Road, 150m prior to Pine Valley Road when travelling from SH6. 

Rock revetment works commenced this week, approximately 7km up Onamalutu Road from the Northbank Road turnoff. Works will continue at this location for approximately two weeks. 

These works will be carried out under stop/go traffic management.

Rock revetment works on Northbank Road

Queen Charlotte Drive

From 8 to 19 April on weekdays, road closures are planned on Queen Charlotte Drive between the Picton Lookout and Shakespeare Bay between 9am to 3pm, with openings on the hour every hour. There will be delays of up to 10 minutes between 7am to 9am at this location. These closures are for Port Marlborough to undertake logging operations and the removal of wilding pines and wattles.

There are increased works along the length of Queen Charlotte Drive during March with multiple recovery sites under construction. These works will be under stop/go traffic management, please expect delays. 

Crews have been working on the construction of a MSE (Mechanically Stabilised Earth) wall and associated drainage upgrades on Queen Charlotte Drive (approximately 1.7km from the SH6/Havelock turnoff) near Cullen Point, Mahakipawa Hill.

Last week anchors were installed at Cullen Point. This week anchor drilling and the installation of wailers has been undertaken. Works are continuing at this location under stop/go traffic management. 

Works to install a new culvert and repair the road are continuing, just prior to Moenui Road, when travelling from Havelock. Last week the placement of the concrete wingwalls and installation of sections of the box culvert was undertaken. This week backfilling and compacting has been carried out. Next week further works will continue on the sections upstream of the culvert. 

The construction of two railway iron walls is being carried out approximately 1.9km and 2.1km past Tepuia Heights, on Queen Charlotte Drive when travelling towards Picton. Over the last two weeks the driving of railway irons and timber lagging works, and backfilling has been carried out at this location. Next week pavement reinstatement and the installation of the site rail is scheduled, as works near completion. Users of the Link Pathway will be guided through these sites by traffic management.

Works are being undertaken 750m past The Grove Jetty, when travelling towards Picton to complete drainage upgrades and repair a dropout. Last week crews finished excavating the dropout. This week and next week backfilling works and a culvert replacement will be undertaken.  

Works continue at a new retaining wall site, 450m past Aussie Bay. Last week crews backfilled behind the railway iron wall and this week they have installed a culvert. Next week kerb and channel works, along with road preparations for sealing are scheduled. 

Works to realign the road and repair a slip continue 70m past Governors Bay when travelling towards Picton. Last week and this week crews have been drilling anchors on the slope below and preparing to lay mesh. Next week crews are scheduled to shotcrete the slope of the slip.

A third railway iron site is scheduled to start in the coming weeks, 450m before Moenui Road, when travelling towards Picton.

Please note there will be increased truck movements while these works are being carried out. Please plan ahead for delays.

Please ensure you 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.

Backfilling behind the new wall near Tepuia Heights

Drilling and installing wall anchors at Cullen Point 

Backfilling the railway iron wall near Aussie Bay 

Waihopai Valley Road

On Wednesday 3 April, a one day road closure is planned to carry out maintenance on the ramp onto the bailey bridge on Waihopai Valley Road, 30km from the SH63 turnoff.

Closures will be from 9am to 3pm, with openings on the hour, every hour to clear waiting traffic. 

Ward

Riverbank works, willow planting and backfilling have been undertaken last week on the Ure River. Crews have been tidying up the area this week and two sections have now been completed, the first is approximately 4.7km from the SH1 turnoff and the second section is approximately 7.7km from the SH1 turnoff.

Willow planting and backfilling on the Ure River

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