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Marlborough Roads Recovery Update |
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5 February 2026 |
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This Week's Summary |
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This week construction continued across the Marlborough Roads Recovery network in the Awatere, French Pass, Kenepuru, Northbank, Port Underwood and on Queen Charlotte Drive. With the exception of Northbank Road, all sites are under stop/go traffic management. No work will occur on the Marlborough Roads Recovery sites over Waitangi Weekend. Crews finished work at 12pm today, Thursday 5 February and will resume as scheduled on Monday 9 February. Unattended traffic lights with minor delays may remain in place at some sites. Surveillence has identified suspicious activity on construction sites in the French Pass. We encourage anyone who notices anything unusual to please contact us. --------------------------------------------------- Drainage improvements have commenced on Awatere Valley Road at the Upcot Saddle. The construction closure on Awatere Valley Road at Awapiri has been postponed until after Easter. Work continues in the French Pass to complete road stablisation, drainage improvements and retaining walls. These sites are located on Croisilles Road, Croisilles-French Pass Road, and Archers Road. In the Kenepuru, between Linkwater and the Heads, construction continues on:
Approximately 17km from the start of Northbank Road, a construction closure continues until Friday 20 February. Crews are continuing to excavate from above the slip. On Port Underwood Road, crews are replacing a culvert and reinstating the pavement. On Queen Charlotte Drive on Mahikipawa Hill, crews are constructing a concrete dish channel and reinstating the pavement, prior to establishing on Moenui Road. 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. Continue reading for information on:
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Upcoming Road Closures |
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Kenepuru Road - between properties 955 and 2085 From Monday 9 February until Monday 16 February a construction closure is planned on Kenepuru Road for approximately 11km, between Willow Bay and 'Water Tank Slip'. This closure will be in place on the below days and times:
--------------------------------------------------- Kenepuru Road - closure extension towards Linkwater From Tuesday 17 February to early March the construction closure on Kenepuru Road will be extended approximately 3km towards Linkwater, to Ohingaroa Bay. This extension accomodates a new site requiring a culvert replacement within the closure. The same closure timings (outlined above) will apply for this closure. This closure continues to allow multiple road repairs to be completed concurrently and safely. Gates will be in place at each end of the closure and at working sites. Outside of the closure times stop/go traffic management may be in place with delays of up to 15 minutes. Traffic management will ensure that vehicles do not get stuck between closure points during the opening times. The Kenepuru Road closure location will continue to be adjusted throughout 2026 as sites at either end of the closure are completed or established. Any future extension to the closure will be communicated a minimum of two-weeks prior to the change being made. --------------------------------------------------- Archers Road - approximately 1km from the start From Monday 9 February, a construction closure will be in place on Archers Road, Tennyson Inlet, approximately 1km from the start of the road. The closure will be in place from 8am Monday 9 February until late-March for all traffic on the below days and times:
Due to the narrowness of the road, the closure is needed to undertake two road retreats and complete the retaining wall. There will be no traffic management in place outside of these closure times, however road users should take care driving through this site due to the narrowness of the road. --------------------------------------------------- Postponement to Awatere Valley Road - at Awapiri Following feedback from the community, the works on Awatere Road at Awapiri have been postponed until after Easter. No planned construction closure will be in place at this site from Monday 9 February to Friday 27 March as previously notified. The closures are now planned from Monday 13 April to late May. The closures will remain as Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays. Timings for these closures will be communicated in the coming weeks. --------------------------------------------------- To view current closure locations, please visit the CDEM map. Changes to planned road closures will be sent via Antenno. Sign up to Antenno here. If you have any concerns, please contact recovery@marlboroughroads.com. |
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Location of Kenepuru Road construction closure from 9 February to 17 February |
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Awatere Valley Road |
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Work has started on Awatere Valley Road at the Upcot Saddle to complete culvert replacements and drainage improvements. This site is under stop/go traffic management with delays of up to 15 minutes. |
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French Pass |
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On Croisilles Road, approximately 4.2km before the Hope Drive/Wharf Road intersection crews are continuing to drill and grout anchors at ground level. This site is under stop/go traffic management with delays of up to 15 minutes. On Croisilles Road, approximately 1.5km before the Hope Drive/Wharf Road, ashphalt bunds have been constructed to manage surface water runoff. --------------------------------------------------- On Croisilles-French Pass Road, approximately 2km past Okiwi Bay, a retaining wall has been completed and crews have disestablished from site. On Croisilles-French Pass Road, crews have completed a culvert replacement approximately 10km past Okiwi Bay. A second culvert is being replaced this week, approximately 1km further up the road. This site is under stop/go traffic management with delays of up to 15 minutes. |
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The completed retaining wall on Croisilles-French Pass Road. |
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Kenepuru |
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From Monday 9 February until Monday 16 February there will be a construction closure on Kenepuru Road for approximately 11km, between Willow Bay and 'Water Tank Slip'. From Tuesday 17 February until early March this closure will be extended approximately 3km towards Linkwater, to incorporate Ohingaroa Bay. This extension allows a new site requiring a culvert replacement to be included in the closure. The days and times for this closure are:
Outside of the closure times stop/go traffic management may be in place with delays of up to 15 minutes. Traffic management will ensure that vehicles do not get stuck between closure points during the opening times. --------------------------------------------------- On Moetapu Bay Road, approximately 1.3km from the start of the road, crews are continuing the installation of three culverts whilst also excavating the slip. This week, crews are completing a retaining wall, drainage repairs and reinstating the pavement at two sites approximately 2.5km before the Mahau Road turn-off. This will be followed by road sealing, pending suitable weather conditions. Work continues at two sites on Kenepuru Road, between the Mahau Road intersection and Broughton Bay to construct two retaining walls. On Kenepuru Road, near Portage Bay, approximately 1.5km prior to Portage Resort, crews continue the excavation, gully fill, and drainage installation. There are three sets of traffic lights across the above sites, with delays of up to 15 minutes at each site. On Torea Road, crews are progressing excavation for a retaining wall. This site is also under traffic lights with delays of up to 15 minutes. |
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Northbank |
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Work continues approximately 17km from the start of Northbank Road to clear a large slip. A construction closure is in place until Friday 20 February on the following days and times:
These closures are essential to safely clear the slip due to the risk of rock fall and also allow for the work to be completed more efficiently. Due to the narrow roadway, no bypass is available. Please plan your travel around the scheduled closure times. Outside of these times unattended traffic lights will remain in place with delays of up to five minutes. No work will occur over Waitangi weekend. Crews completed work at 4.30pm today, Thursday 5 February and will resume on Monday 9 February. --------------------------------------------------- Work continues on the replacement of the Gillespie Bridge on Cat Creek Road. This week crews are completing the installation of foundation piles. |
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Slip excavation and fill site on Northbank Road |
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Port Underwood |
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On Port Underwood Road, approximately 1.5km past McCormicks Road, crews continue to install a retaining wall, alongside reinstating the pavement and replacing a culvert. This site is under stop/go traffic management with delays of up to 15 minutes. |
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Installed site rail on Port Underwood Road |
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Queen Charlotte Drive |
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On Queen Charlotte Drive, approximately 4.2km from Havelock, crews have installed a culvert. They are now constructing a concrete dish channel before reinstating the pavement. This site is under stop/go traffic management with delays of up to 15 minutes. Once works on Queen Charlotte Drive are completed, the crew will move to Moenui Road to undertake multiple drainage repairs. |
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Tennyson Inlet |
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Work continues on a retaining wall approximately 2km from the start of Archers Road crews have installed a second culvert. This week they are pouring a concrete channel and reinstating the pavement. The site is under stop/go traffic management, please drive cautiously and expect minor delays. |
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Kenepuru Road restrictions |
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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 and approximately 500m beyond Nikau Cove (when travelling from Portage). Both 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 RestrictionsVehicles 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:
Other recovery roadsPlease be aware that on all roads, works may be in progress 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. |
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Further Information |
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Marlborough Roads 0800 213 213, 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 recovery@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, 28 Alfred Street, Blenheim on MRoadsadmin@nzta.govt.nz |
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