Marlborough Roads Recovery Update

21 February 2025

This Weeks Summary

Due to rain this week, some construction works have been delayed. Road users are advised to always drive with caution and to the conditions.

Daytime construction closures will continue next week on Kenepuru Road from Onahau Road for 1.7km. Please note this does not change the access status of the road. Kenepuru Road will remain open around the planned construction closures. Please see the road closures section for more details.

Drainage improvements and culvert installations on Moetapu Bay Road continue. 

Preparation for the construction of the new Torea Barge ramp will begin, next week.

In the French Pass area construction continues on Tennyson Inlet Road. Road sealing is scheduled on Croisilles Road and Ronga Road following the completion of works in these areas.

Work on Queen Charlotte Drive continues on Moenui Road and Mahakipawa Hill. Please plan ahead for minor delays. 

Construction at multiple sites along Waihopai Valley Road began this week. With bridge abutment protection works at Craiglochart Bridge and minor works along the road. 

When travelling near or past our work sites, please ensure you keep outside any fences or barriers for your safety. Adhere to, and do not move any traffic or safety management in place (i.e. cones/signs/traffic lights).

Keep reading for information on:

• Road closures
• French Pass
• Kenepuru Road
• Kaituna
• Moetapu Bay
• Pelorus
• Queen Charlotte Drive
• Waihopai Valley

Road closures

Kenepuru Road - Water Tank slip

The Kenepuru Road closures at 'water tank slip' are coming to end. Closures are from the Onahau Road intersection for 1.7km, and are planned on: 

• Monday 24 February from 12.30pm to 5.00pm. 
• Tuesday 25 February from 8am to 12pm and 12.30pm to 5pm
• Wednesday 26 February there will be no road closure.
• Thursday 27 February from 8am to 12pm and 12.30pm to 5pm
• Friday 28 February from 8am to 12pm and 12.30pm to 3.30pm

Sealing along with concrete works and rock placement for a culvert are to be completed under the closures next week. 

Please note this does not change the access status of the road. Kenepuru Road will remain open around the planned construction closures. To view the closure location, please visit the CDEM map. 

Outside of the closure days and times, works will be carried out under stop/go traffic management with up to 10 minute delays. If you have any concerns, please contact recovery@marlboroughroads.com. 

Current Kenepuru Road restrictions

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, the 'water tank slip' site and approximately 500m beyond Nikau Cove (when travelling from Portage). All three 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 Restrictions

Vehicles 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:

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

Other recovery roads

Please be aware that on all roads, works may be in progess 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.

French Pass

Following linemarking and road sweeping the box culvert and MSE wall site on Ronga Road is now complete.

Drainage improvements and minor works on Croisilles Road are also complete. 

Construction on Tennyson Inlet continued this week, with the installation of a gabion basket and culvert, 5km before the Duncan Bay intersection.

These works will be carried out under stop/go traffic management, please plan ahead for minor delays.

Road reinstatement on Ronga Road, French Pass

Sealing complete on Ronga Road, French Pass

Kaituna

Tree removal and rock scaling is scheduled to begin next week on Kaituna-Tuamarina Road, half way along the road.

Temporary speed restrictions and traffic management will be in place. Please plan ahead and allow for minor delays of up to 10 minutes at this site whilst construction is in place. 

Kenepuru Road

Daytime construction closures from the Onahau Road intersection for 1.7km towards Portage on Kenepuru Road at the 'water tank slip' site are coming to an end. 

Road preparations and minor finishing works have been completed  at ‘water tank slip’ with sealing planned onTuesday 25 February (weather dependant). Drainage improvements are also being being undertaken next week at the site with concrete works and rock placement for a culvert. Please refer to the road closure section for more information.

Temporary traffic lights remain in place at Portage Heights, at the 'water tank slip' site and approximately 500m beyond Nikau Cove (when travelling from Portage). All three sites have a 30km temporary speed limit in place. Please expect minor delays and follow all traffic management signage.

On Monday 24 February preparation for the construction of the new Torea Barge Ramp will begin.  From Monday, crews will install access from the jetty to the road, to maintain pedestrian access whilst construction is underway.

When the barge ramp construction begins, work is planned from Monday to Saturday between the hours of 6am to 8pm, to work in with tides.

This week, crews started on road stabilisation and other minor works on Kenepuru Road between the Heads and Waitaria Bay. This work is planned to continue over the following weeks. 

Please note we are currently undertaking unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) surveying of Kenepuru Road and surrounding areas. The UAV surveys topographical features of the road and surrounding slopes/slips to inform designs.

Construction at water tank slip, Kenepuru Road

Moetapu Bay

Drainage improvements and culvert upgrades continue along Moetapu Bay Road. Work to install the remaining culverts will be completed under stop/go traffic management. Please plan ahead for minor delays.

Sealing at Elephant Point will be completed once drainage improvements have been finished. 

Pelorus

This week at Dalton's Bridge, crews have been reforming the shoulder road access to the river following rock revetment work. Sealing of the road is planned for next week (weather dependant) before disestablishment from site. 

Please expect increased truck movements in the area while this work is underway.

Completed rock revetment at Dalton's Bridge

Landscaping and road reinstatement underway at Dalton’s Bridge

Queen Charlotte Drive

Construction on Moenui Road for drainage improvements continues. This week the crew have poured the concrete channel and have reinstated the road with works scheduled to be completed by Friday 21 February (weather dependant). 

Clearance of the overslip on Mahakipawa Hill, 1km from Havelock on Queen Charlotte Drive continued this week. This site is under stop/go traffic management while under construction.

Please follow all traffic management when you're travelling through our worksites to ensure the safety of crews and road users. Temporary speed restrictions and traffic management will be in place. Please plan ahead and allow for minor delays of up to 10 minutes at each site. 

Overlip clearance underway on Mahakipawa Hill, Queen Charlotte Drive

Waihopai Valley

This week the crews have been working to clear an overslip and minor drainage improvements along Waihopai Valley Road, 2km before the Power Station, to clear an overslip and to complete minor drainage works.

Work has begun at Craiglochart Bridge for abutment protection works. This work is being completed off the road, however please expect an increase in truck movements while construction is in place. Scheduled works may impact river access for those using the swimming hole. 

Minor works and road scour repairs are also underway at multiple sites along Waihopai Valley Road. 

Further Information

Marlborough Roads 0800 213 213 or 03 520 8024, 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 mdc@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, 4 Market Street Blenheim on MRoadsadmin@nzta.govt.nz