Nelson/Tasman state highway planned roadworks

Saturday 6 December to Friday 12 December

5 December 2025

At SH6 Dellows Bluff, large boulders embedded in the face above the road come loose when the material around them erodes, highlighting the challenges posed by the area's geology.

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 12:30pm on 5/12/2025.

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, returning early morning Monday 5 January.

However, some long-term sites may have ongoing restrictions in place.

SH6 Nelson to Blenheim

SH6 The Glen, Whakapuaka

Chipsealing will take place Tuesday 9 to Monday 15 December, 7am to 5pm. Stop/go traffic management will operate during work hours with a 30 km/h speed limit. Outside work hours, a 50 km/h speed limit will apply until sweeping and line marking are completed.

SH6 Nelson to Greymouth

SH6 Rocks Road, Richardson Street to Magazine Point

Rockfall protection works are continuing but are expected to have minimal impact on road users over the coming months. Crews have recently removed old mesh and are installing ground anchors for new netting. No work will occur over the Christmas and New Year break.

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 30 minutes extra travel time between Wakefield and the Murchison area.

SH6 Coal Creek, south of Owen River Bridge

Repairs to the road and the road shoulder continue at this site following storm damage in late October. Stop/go traffic lights and a 30km/h temporary speed limit is in place 24/7. Expect delays of up to 10 minutes.

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.

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. At times, traffic will be held in both directions when controlled rock clearing is underway. Plan ahead for delays of up to 15 minutes at each site. The road will be open to two lanes over the Christmas / New Year holiday period.

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 recovery on a number of sites on the hill. 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.

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.

SH60 Upper Tākaka to East Tākaka

The final stages of recent resurfacing work are expected to be completed on Monday 8 December. A 50 km/h temporary speed limit will remain until the site is swept and linemarked. Please take extra care.

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.