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Marlborough Roads Recovery Update |
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9 April 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, Port Underwood, Waihopai Valley and on Queen Charlotte Drive. There will be no recovery works or construction closures in place over Anzac weekend. With the exception of Northbank, work will stop at 12pm on Friday 24 April. Work will resume as scheduled on Tuesday 27 April. --------------------------------------------------- Progress continues on Awatere Valley Road where the third and final culvert is being installed, approximately 8km south of the Upcot Saddle. A new site on Awatere Valley Road at Awapiri has been established this week. Next week work will progress at this site under a road closure. In the French Pass work continues on Ronga Road, Croisilles Road and Croisilles-French Pass Road. In Tennyson Inlet on Archers Road, pavement preparation is progressing and sealing will be completed next week. In the Kenepuru, between Linkwater and the Heads, construction is currently underway at:
Approximately 17km from the start of Northbank Road work has paused until Monday 13 April when culvert installations and rock scaling will be completed under a construction closure. On Queen Charlotte Drive crews have completed slip repairs and road sealing above Moenui Road and near the Grove Jetty. Approximately 23km from the start of Waihopai Valley Road crews are starting drainage improvements. 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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Northbank Road - 17km from the start From Monday 13 April until Friday 24 April a construction closure will be in place on Northbank Road approximately 17km from the start of the road. The closure is required for culvert installation and rock scaling on the following days and times:
Outside of these times unattended traffic lights will remain in place with delays of up to 5 minutes. -------------------------------------------------- Awatere Valley Road - at Awapiri From Monday 13 April until late May, a closure will be in place on Awatere Valley Road at Awapiri. The site is located approximately 2km up the valley from Jordan River Bridge or 12km down the valley from Hodder River Bridge. The closure is required for the construction of a road retreat, concrete channel and pavement construction. The closure will be in place on Mondays to Fridays from 9am to 2.30pm. From 7am to 9am and 2.30pm to 5pm traffic lights will be in place with delays of up to 15 minutes. Outside of these times, overnight and on weekends, the site will remain under traffic lights with delays of up to 5 minutes. -------------------------------------------------- Tennyson Inlet Road From Monday 13 April until mid-July, a construction closure will be in place approximately 1.2km from the start of Tennyson Inlet Road to just before the Opouri Saddle. The closure is required for the installation of a block wall and drainage improvements and will be in place:
During the first week of work, from Monday 13 April to Friday 17 April, there will be additional opening times at 10am and 2pm for queued traffic. Vehicles must be at the closure points at these times to guarantee access through the site. Works may occur outside of these closure times between 5pm and 7pm on weekdays and 8am and 5pm on Saturdays under stop/go traffic management with delays of up to 15 minutes. -------------------------------------------------- Kenepuru Road closures - updated timings From Tuesday 28 April all planned construction closures in the Kenepuru will return to extended hours. The existing Kenepuru closure currently between Mahau Road and Portage Bay will operate at the below days and times:
The second closure on Kenepuru Road, between Nikau Cove to the Kenepuru Heads Campsite will operate at the below days and times:
Work will be undertaken outside of these days and times, under stop/go traffic management with delays of up to 15 minutes. The exact locations of these closures will change as work sites are completed and new ones established. From early May the closure between Mahau Road and Portage Bay is expected to extend. At this time the western end of the closure (the end closest to Linkwater) will move to start approximately 1.3km beyond Moetapu Bay. The details of this change will be confirmed 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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Awatere Valley Road |
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Work continues on Awatere Valley Road for culvert replacement works and other drainage improvements. The third and final culvert is currently being installed, approximately 8km south of the Upcot Saddle. This site is under stop/go traffic management with delays of up to 15 minutes. -------------------------------------------------- This week a new site is being established on Awatere Valley Road at Awapiri - approximately 2km up the valley from Jordan River Bridge or 12km down the valley from Hodder River Bridge. Work will be undertaken to complete a road retreat, drainage improvements and pavement reinstatement. A closure will be in place at this site from Monday 13 April until late May and the road will be closed to all traffic at the following times:
Outside of the closure, traffic lights will be in place from 7am to 9am and 2.30pm to 5pm on weekdays, with delays of up to 15 minutes. |
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French Pass |
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The road retreats on Ronga Road approximately 11.5km from the SH6 turnoff are now complete. This week construction of a concrete dish channel has been completed, and our crews continue work on pavement preparation ahead of road sealing (weather dependant). Progress continued on Croisilles Road, approximately 4.2km before the Hope Drive/Wharf Road intersection, where a ground beam has been installed to stabilise this section of the road. Drainage work is underway and will continue next week. Anchors are also continue to be drilled at this site. This week on Croisilles-French Pass Road approximately 3.7km before the Elaine Bay Road intersection a crew is working on a small road retreat and undertaking pavement widening. All sites in the French Pass are under stop/go traffic management with delays of up to 15 minutes at each site. |
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Ground beam installed on Croisilles Road |
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Kenepuru |
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At the start of Kenepuru Road, approximately 1km past the Linkwater turn-off, the installation of a box culvert continues. Traffic has been diverted to the west-side on the down slope of the road for the second half of the culvert to be installed. This site is under stop/go traffic management with delays of up to 15 minutes. --------------------------------------------------- Kenepuru Road is closed from the Mahau Road intersection to Portage Bay, this closure is approximately 14km. The closure applies at the following days and times until Friday 24 April:
Progress continues this week at multiple work sites within the Kenepuru Road closure between the Mahau Intersection and Portage including the following:
Work begins at two new locations within this closure from Monday 13 April for two road retreats.
Please refer to the image below for the locations of sites operating within the Kenepuru Road closure this week. --------------------------------------------------- A second Kenepuru Road closure is now in place until late August, from Nikau Cove to the Kenepuru Heads. The closure applies at the following days and times until Friday 24 April:
This closure is required for the installation of a retaining wall, drainage improvements and a road retreat across multiple sites. Work will be undertaken outside of these days and times, under stop/go traffic management with delays of up to 15 minutes. Traffic management crews will ensure traffic does not get stuck between the two closures on Kenepuru Road. --------------------------------------------------- Crews continue work on Torea Road where a culvert was installed last week. Pavement preparation is underway this week. This work is being completed under stop/go with minor delays. --------------------------------------------------- Next week crews will continue minor drainage improvements on Lawrence Road. Traffic lights are in place at this site. --------------------------------------------------- Kenepuru Road closures - updated timings From Tuesday 28 April all planned construction closures in the Kenepuru will return to extended hours. The existing Kenepuru closure currently between Mahau Road and Portage Bay will operate at the below days and times:
The second closure on Kenepuru Road, between Nikau Cove to the Kenepuru Heads Campsite will operate at the below days and times:
Work will be undertaken outside of these days and times, under stop/go traffic management with delays of up to 15 minutes. The exact locations of these closures will change as work sites are completed and new ones established. From early May the closure between Mahau Road and Portage Bay is expected to extend. At this time the western end of the closure (the end closest to Linkwater) will move to start approximately 1.3km beyond Moetapu Bay. The details of this change will be confirmed in the coming weeks. |
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Current Kenepuru Road closures and site locations |
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Box culvert installation on Kenepuru Road, approximately 1km past the Linkwater turn off |
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Culvert installation on Kenepuru Road |
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Moetapu Bay Road |
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Work to backfill a gully on Moetapu Bay Road, approximately 4.3km from the start of the road continues. This week pavement preparation has been completed ahead of sealing, scheduled for early next week (weather dependant). |
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Excavation on Moetapu Bay Road |
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Northbank |
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From Monday 13 April until Friday 24 April a closure will be reinstated approximately 17km from the start of Northbank Road for crews to complete culvert installation and rock scaling works. This closure will be on the same days and times as the previous closure.
-------------------------------------------- Outside of the planned closure, this site continues to operate under traffic lights with delays of up to 5 minutes, due to the risk of rock fall from above the road. Work continues on the replacement of Gillespies Bridge on Cat Creek Road. This week the crew is backfilling the abutments. |
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Backfilling abutments at Gillespies Bridge |
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Port Underwood |
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This week work commenced between Robin Hood and Ocean Bays on Port Underwood Road for culvert installation, slip clearance and drainage improvements. |
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Road retreat excavation underway on Port Underwood Road |
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Queen Charlotte Drive |
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Last week on Queen Charlotte Drive pavement sealing was completed above Moenui Road where an over slip was cleared. Coconut matting was installed on the slip face along with planting and hydroseeding this week. Today sealing has been completed at a second location near the Grove Jetty where crews have completed the construction of a retaining wall and drainage improvements. |
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Coconut matting and planting prior to hydroseeding on a overslip repair on Queen Charlotte Drive |
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Pavement preparation on Queen Charlotte Drive following the completion of a retaining wall |
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Tennyson Inlet |
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Pavement preparations for sealing on Archers Road, Tennyson Inlet, approximately 1km from the start of the road, have been completed today. Due to weather, road sealing has been delayed until next week. -------------------------------------------- From Monday 13 April until mid-July, construction closures will be in place approximately 1.2km from the start of Tennyson Inlet Road to just before the Opouri Saddle. The closure is required for the installation of a retaining wall and drainage improvements and will be in place:
For the first week of works, from Monday 13 April to Friday 17 April there will be additional opening times at 10am and 2pm for queued traffic. Vehicles must be at the closure points at these times to guarantee access through the site. Works may occur outside of these closure times between 5pm and 7pm on weekdays and 8am and 5pm on Saturdays under stop/go traffic management with delays of up to 15 minutes. |
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Waihopai Valley |
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Drainage repairs continue on Waihopai Valley Road. With the site established, this week the crew are continuing a culvert installation approximately 27km from the start of the road. Work is being completed under stop/go traffic management with delays of up to 15 minutes. |
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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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