Nelson/Tasman state highway planned roadworks

Saturday 20 September to Friday 26 September

19 September 2025

Kia ora and welcome

Kia ora,

Welcome to the first edition of the Nelson/Tasman state highway planned roadworks update.

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

This summer, we’ll be carrying out maintenance work along 35 lane kilometres of state highway in Nelson/Tasman, from full rebuilds to fresh asphalt and chipseal resurfacing. It’s all part of keeping our roads safe and fit for the future.

Our annual summer maintenance programme kicks off in October when you’ll see our crews out and about on the state highways patching, chip sealing, resurfacing, and rebuilding roads to help you get where you’re going, quickly and safely. We carry out this work during the warmer, drier months to ensure quality and durability.

This work is in addition to the recovery and resilience works already underway across the Nelson/Tasman region. Since the June and July storm events our crews have been working hard to rebuild and repair flood damaged sections of the region's state highways. This important work will continue during the summer months.

We’ll share more details about the full 2025/26 programme in the coming weeks.

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

For the latest updates on road conditions before you travel, visit www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/journey-planner.

SH6 Nelson to Blenheim

SH6 Whangamoa Saddle

• Resilience works resume on Monday 22 September and are scheduled for completion on Friday 28 November.
• Work will be carried out Monday to Friday but stop/go traffic management and a 30km/h reduced speed limit will be in place 24/7 for the safety of all road users.
• Expect delays of up to 10 minutes.
• There are five sites to complete as part of this project, however only one site will be worked on at a time.
• Read our Traffic Bulletin for more information about this work.

SH6 Wakefield, near Baigent Valley Road

• Culvert replacement work until Tuesday 23 September.
• Monday to Friday, 7am - 5pm.
• Stop/go traffic management and 30km/h speed restrictions during work hours.
• Both lanes open and 50km/h speed restrictions outside work hours.

SH6 Clark Valley, 5km south of Motupiko

• Ongoing work to replace two culverts until Friday 3 October.
• Monday to Friday, 7am - 5pm.
• Stop/go traffic management and 30km/h speed restrictions during work hours.
• Both lanes open and 50km/h speed restrictions outside work hours.

SH6 Woodhen Bend – north of Kawatiri Junction

• Ongoing rock armouring and flood damage repairs until Friday 3 October.
• Monday to Friday, 7am - 5pm.
• Stop/go traffic management with 30km/h speed restrictions during work hours.

SH6 Dellows Bluff, west of Murchison

• Ongoing overslip repair work until Tuesday 30 September.
• Monday to Friday, 7am - 5:30pm.
• Intermittent 15-minute stop/stops between 9am and 3pm and 30km/h speed restrictions.

SH6 Inangahua to Lower Buller Gorge

• Ongoing maintenance work until December.
• Stop/go traffic management and various speed restrictions in place.
• Monday to Friday, 6am - 6pm.
• Expect delays of up to 30 minutes.

SH60 Nelson to Golden Bay

SH60 High Street, Motueka, between Inglis Street and Fearon Street

• Ongoing kerb, channel and footpath replacement work until Friday 31 October.
• Monday to Friday, 7am - 5pm.
• Two lanes of traffic maintained, but some parking spaces unavailable.

SH60 Takaka Hill, Riwaka side, from 500m on the Riwaka side of Riwaka Valley Road, to 500m after

• Ongoing shoulder widening and emergency works until Friday 26 September.
• Monday to Friday, 7am - 5pm.
• Stop/go traffic lights with 30 km/h speed restrictions. Traffic will be held intermittently up to 30 minutes at a time.

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

• Ongoing, 24/7 work following slip and weather damage.
• Stop/go traffic lights, one lane closed and 30 km/h speed restrictions.
• Expect delays of up to 20 minutes.

Upcoming work on State Highway 60

SH60 High Street Motueka 

From Sunday 28 September to Friday 17 October (Sunday to Thursday nights), SH60/High Street  will be closed to southbound traffic between Tudor Street and Greenwood Street from 7pm to 7am for asphalt resurfacing. During this time a local road detour via Staples Street, Thorp Street and Old Wharf Road will be in place. Allow an extra 5 minutes for this detour. The road will remain open for northbound traffic.

On Sunday 5 October, Monday 6 October and Tuesday 7 October SH60 High Street Motueka will be closed in both directions between Tudor Street and Greenwood Street / Pah Street from 7pm to 7am. During this time a local road detour via Staples Street, Thorp Street and Old Wharf Road will be in place. Allow an extra 5 minutes for this detour. 

Read our media release for more information about this work.

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.