Nelson/Tasman state highway planned roadworks

Saturday 13 December to Friday 19 December

12 December 2025

Crews repairing the road and reinforcing the riverbank at Coal Creek on State Highway 6

Kia ora and welcome

Kia ora,

Welcome to the latest Nelson/Tasman state highway planned roadworks update.

This weekly newsletter will keep you informed about what’s happening across the region’s state highways so you can plan ahead.

If you are travelling, remember to check Journey Planner for the latest updates on road conditions. 

Please feel free to share this newsletter with whānau and friends, anyone can sign up to stay informed.

The information outlined below is current as at 12:35pm on 12/12/2025.

Roadworks over the Christmas and New Year period

All roadworks will pause for the main holiday period, with contractors shutting down sites from midday Friday 19 December until at least the morning of Monday 5 January. The only exception would be if emergency works are required or essential work needs to be completed.

SH6 Nelson to Blenheim

SH6 The Glen, Wakapuaka

Chipsealing work is now complete, and crews are monitoring the site and sweeping loose chip. A 50 km/h speed limit will stay in place until this is finished, which is expected by the evening of Tuesday 16 December.

SH6 Nelson to Greymouth

SH6 Rocks Road, Richardson Street to Magazine Point

Rockfall protection works are continuing and good progress is being made. Traffic management (such as temporary lane and road closures) may still be needed at times. However, work over summer should have minimal impact on the state highway, and no work will be happening over the Christmas/New Year break.

Over the coming months, workers will continue to install several hundred ground anchors for new mesh netting. This will reduce the risk of more material falling onto the road below, and help make the cliff above the highway more resistant to slips and rockfalls. The aim is to have all work finished by late 2026.

Read our media release for more information

Due to the number of work sites on State Highway 6 (as outlined below) please allow up to 20 minutes extra travel time between Wakefield and the Murchison area.

However, over the main holiday break, travel times should be normal for that time of year.

SH6 Coal Creek, south of Owen River Bridge

Repairs to the road and the road shoulder due to storm damage in late October will continue this week, but are close to being completed. Stop/go traffic lights and a 30km/h temporary speed limit is in place 24/7. Expect delays of up to 10 minutes.

From midday Friday 19 December the road will be open to two lanes.

More work is likely to be done next year to reinforce the riverbank, but this should have minimal impact on road users.

SH6 Dellows Bluff 

Slip face resilience work is continuing between 7am to 7pm. Stop/go traffic management and a 30km/h temporary speed limit are in place during work hours. A 50km/h temporary speed limit applies outside work hours. Expect delays of up to 10 minutes.

However, from midday Friday 19 December until Tuesday 6 January, the road will be open to two lanes. After that, crews will return to carry out further work.

SH6 Granity Narrows and O'Sullivan's Junction

Rockfall resilience work continues at two sites near Murchison: one at the Granity Narrows between Kawatiri and Owen Junction, and the other near O’Sullivan’s Junction close to the intersection of State Highways 6 and 65.

Stop/go traffic management may be operating and reduced temporary speed limits are likely to be in place at both sites 24/7 until the end of May 2026. Plan ahead for delays of up to 15 minutes at each site.

However, from midday Friday 19 December until at least Tuesday 6 January, the road will be open to two lanes.

Read our media release for more information.

SH60 Nelson to Golden Bay

SH60 Tākaka Hill, Riwaka side, approx. 4 km uphill from Riwaka Valley Road

We’re continuing recoverywork on a number of sites on the hill, but are close to finishing. Stop/go traffic lights and a 30km/h temporary speed limit remains in place at all times. Please plan ahead for delays of up to 20 minutes when you're travelling over Tākaka Hill.

However, the road will be open to two lanes by Christmas.

Read our update about the good progress crews are making

SH60 Tākaka Hill night closures

Overnight resurfacing work is continuing until the morning of Friday 19 December between 8pm and 5:30am (Sunday to Thursday nights). There will be one opening every night for traffic queued on each side of the hill. Traffic must be queued at the Aaron Creek Road closure point by 12:30am or at the Riwaka Valley Road closure point by 1am.

This work is completed each year to ensure the highway’s road surface is maintained and kept in a good state of repair. The intention is to complete the work, along with ongoing storm recovery repairs, to allow the road to reopen to two lanes before the busy summer holidays period.

Read our traffic bulletin for more information.

More information

Please be aware that there may be other less disruptive state highway works not listed in this newsletter. 

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.

For more information on the Nelson/Tasman state highway maintenance programme, contact us at Nelson-Tasmanmaintenance@nzta.govt.nz

Visit our website www.nzta.govt.nz/sh-maintenance-programme/nelson-tasman

For information on Marlborough, West Coast or Canterbury state highway maintenance,  where you can sign up for newsletters that cover other regions.