This Week's Summary

Kenepuru Road to the Heads, and its side roads remain restricted to residents, emergency and essential services.

Daltons Bridge, near Kaiuma Bay Road, is currently closed to heavy vehicles over 3500kg and a diversion is in place via Te Hoiere Road.

A bridge closure to all traffic at Daltons Bridge will start on Monday 1 July for bridge abutment repairs. This closure will be in place 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Please see the road closure section for more information. 

Multiple work sites on Queen Charlotte Drive between the mechanically stabilised earth (MSE) wall site near Cullen Point and Ngakuta Bay remain in place. Please factor more time into your travel plans and expect delays. Worksite locations include:

• The MSE wall near Cullen Point (approx 1.7km from SH6/Havelock turnoff).
• The installation of a new culvert near Moenui Road.
• A road retreat site, 180m past Tepuia Heights, when travelling towards Picton.
• The construction of a retaining wall 450m past Aussie Bay when travelling towards Picton.
• The construction of a retaining wall, 1.3km prior to Ngakuta Bay when travelling towards Picton.

Works at the above locations are under stop/go traffic management, please expect delays.

Work on the new boat ramp in French Pass township is planned to begin on 24 June 2024 and is scheduled to take approximately two weeks to complete.

Work to build a new retaining wall just prior to Portage near the Torea Road intersection, on Kenepuru Road continues.

The construction of a retaining wall and installation of a culvert on Port Underwood Road is nearing completion. This work is approximately 4km from the Picton end of Port Underwood Road, near Whatamango Bay. 

Work to build a new bridge, upstream of the current temporary bailey bridge on Waihopai Valley Road is underway.

Please ensure you keep to the reduced temporary speed limits when travelling through worksites to ensure the safety of our crews and road users. We thank you for your patience.

When walking near or through our worksites, please keep animals on a leash. 

Keep reading for information on:

• Contact Information 
• Continuation of Local Recovery Transition Period
• Kenepuru Road Restrictions
• Road Closures
• Road Restrictions
• Resident Definition
• French Pass
• Kenepuru Road
• Northbank
• Pelorus
• Port Underwood Road 
• Queen Charlotte Drive
• Waihopai Valley

Contact Information

Phone: 0800 213 213 or 03 520 8024, between 8.30am - 4.30pm, Monday to Friday.

Email: recovery@marlboroughroads.com

If you require welfare support contact recovery@marlborough.govt.nz or phone Council on 03 520 7400.

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. 

Continuation of Local Recovery Transition Period

The Marlborough District Council has extended the local recovery transition period for the Marlborough Sounds Ward.

Although access has been restored the removal of the current restrictions are dependent on the assessment of a Road Safety Auditor after the programmed repairs at two critical sites; Torea Road intersection and what is commonly known as Water Tank Slip, just beyond Te Mahia Bay. 

Work at the Torea Road intersection are currently underway and are programmed to be completed by end of July 2024. Water Tank Slip is planned to be completed in time for the Christmas/New Year Holiday period 2024. 

As a result of the continued restrictions the Council's water and air transport subsidies will continue until these works are completed. 

Visit the Council's website for more information on these subsidies. 

Road Closure

Daltons Bridge, Pelorus

Daltons Bridge is currently closed to heavy vehicles over 3500kg. A detour is in place via Te Hoiere Road for all heavy traffic.

From Monday 1 July Dalton's Bridge will be closed to all traffic to allow for bridge abutment repairs. This closure will be in place 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. These works are expected to take approximately six weeks.

Kenepuru Road Restrictions

Kenepuru Road to the Heads, and its side roads remain restricted to residents, emergency and essential services. 

These roads have severe storm damage and entry into this section of Kenepuru Road is at resident and emergency or essential service drivers' discretion. 

Extreme care should be exercised and daylight driving only is strongly recommended. 

Residents vehicles up to 12.6m in length, and 6 tonne in weight can travel on Kenepuru Road and the following side roads; Mahau Road, Torea Road and Moetapu Bay Road as far as Double Bay Reserve. 

This means residents can access boat launching areas at Double Bay Reserve, Torea and at Portage. 

On all other side roads, between Kenepuru Road to the Heads no vehicles over 8m in length or 3.5 tonne in weight are permitted. 

The Marlborough District Council's barge subsidy is available for resident's vehicles that are outside these dimensions.

The Council's water taxi subsidy is available for residents, workers and visitors to areas in the Marlborough Sounds that were previously accessible by road. 

For more information on the Council's transport subsidies visit their website. 

For a full list of what is deemed an emergency or essential service visit the Council's website.

The following restrictions apply on this section of Kenepuru Road and it's side roads including Moetapu Bay Road;

• No campervans, vans or buses.
• Only 4WD and light vehicles.
• On Kenepuru Road to the Heads, Torea Road, Mahau Road and Moetapu Bay Road to Double Bay Reserve, no vehicles over 12.6m in length or 6 tonne in weight. 

On all side roads off Kenepuru Road to the Heads, excluding Torea Road, Mahau Road and Moetapu Bay Road to Double Bay Reserve, no vehicles more than 8 metres in length or 3.5 tonne.

Residents only are permitted to walk and cycle on the restricted access section of Kenepuru Road and Moetapu Bay Road.

There are the following hazards on this section of Kenepuru Road and Moetapu Bay Road;

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

Road Restrictions

Queen Charlotte Drive between Linkwater and Picton is open to all vehicles less than 12.6m. Vehicles over 12.6m must obtain a permit to drive on this section of Queen Charlotte Drive. These permits can be obtained by emailing the Marlborough Roads NZTA office on MRoadsadmin@nzta.govt.nz.

Anakiwa Road is open to vehicles less than 12.6m. Beyond Tirimoana Jetty, only light vehicles weighing less than 3.5 tonnes are allowed, unless by prior arrangement.

French Pass and Tennyson Inlet are accessible, but drivers should be aware that the road is narrower than usual in some sections.

Please be aware that on all roads, including those with public access, there may be areas of works and traffic management in place. Please expect delays and follow all signage and traffic management.

Heavy rain may lead to roads needing to be closed urgently. No matter the status of the road, drive to the conditions.

To check the status of a road before you travel, please visit the Civil Defence Emergency Map.

Resident Definition

The definition of a resident, in terms of who is able to access roads restricted to resident and emergency services is; 

A permanent resident, owner of a holiday home/bach, or the owner of a commercial interest.

It does not include visitors who are hiring or renting a holiday home or bach, where rental arrangements have been made through either a property letting agency or directly with the owner. 

French Pass

Earlier this week investigative drilling work was carried out on Croisilles-French Pass Road. From Wednesday the crew moved to Croisilles Road 1.3km from the intersection with Hope Drive, near Okiwi Bay. This work will be completed tomorrow and is under stop/go traffic management, please expect delays. 

Work on the new boat ramp in French Pass township is planned to begin on 24 June 2024 and is scheduled to take approximately two weeks to complete. Boat owners are advised to use the Okiwi Bay boat ramp over this period.

Kenepuru

Work on Kenepuru Road to install an anchored retaining wall just prior to Portage, near the Torea Road intersection continues. This week grouting has been undertaken at this site. Next week micropile and anchor testing along with the construction of a reinforcing cage is planned.

Bund clearance was carried out last week near Portage. Bund clearance and sealing has been paused this week due to weather. These works are planned to continue next week. 

Next week sealing is planned between The Heads and Raetihi and pavement construction between Portage and the start of Kenepuru Road, if weather permits. 

All the above works are under stop/go traffic management operating between 7.30am to 5pm, with minor delays expected. 

Bund clearance work on Kenepuru Road last week

Northbank

Final seed was spread and brush wall planting was completed last week to stabilise the bank at Northbank Road, 1.5km past Fabions Valley Road. Linemarking is scheduled to be carried out this week. 

A flume installation, final seeding and brush wall planting was completed last week on Onamalutu Road, 7km from the Northbank Road turnoff. 

For your safety, and that of other road users please ensure you adhere to the traffic lights on Northbank Road, 17.5km from the start of the road. The lights are required due to unstable rock on the bluff and slopes at the site. The lights are positioned so that vehicles are stopped in low risk areas. We are regularly monitoring the lights to make sure they are operational. This is a complex site and our design and construction teams are working hard to find the most appropriate solution. Once the preferred option is selected, works will begin and the traffic lights will be removed. 

Pelorus

Daltons Bridge is currently closed to heavy vehicles over 3500kg. A detour is in place via Te Hoiere Road for all heavy traffic.

From Monday 1 July, Daltons Bridge will be closed to all traffic 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to allow for bridge abutment repairs. These works are expected to take approximately six weeks.

Road improvements, drainage, the installation of a new culvert and the construction of a ford has now been completed on Maungatapu Road.

Port Underwood Road

Construction of a retaining wall and installation of a culvert is nearing completion on Port Underwood Road. 

This work is approximately 4km from the Picton end of Port Underwood Road, near Whatamango Bay and is being completed under stop/go traffic management.

This work will be undertaken from Monday to Friday (with some Saturday work as required) between 7am and 7pm.

Last week the installation of the kerb and pavement construction was undertaken. 

Sealing is planned at this site tomorrow or Saturday dependent on weather.

Queen Charlotte Drive

There are multiple recovery sites under construction along the length of Queen Charlotte Drive. Work at these sites is under stop/go traffic management, please expect delays. 

Crews have been working on the construction of a mechanically stabilised earth (MSE) wall from the base upwards on Queen Charlotte Drive (approximately 1.7km from the SH6/Havelock turnoff) near Cullen Point, Mahakipawa Hill. 

Work to install a new culvert and repair the road continues, just prior to Moenui Road when travelling from Havelock. This week and next week, drilling and installing of the ground beam anchors and slope stabilisation on the upstream side will be carried out.

A road retreat is nearing completion 180m past Tepuia Heights, on Queen Charlotte Drive, when travelling towards Picton. This week a boundary fence has been installed and line marking has been undertaken. 

Work continues 450m past Aussie Bay at the second retaining wall site. Last week and this week whalers, timber lagging and backfilling have been completed at this site. Line marking was also undertaken at the first retaining wall site this week. 

The construction of a retaining wall, 1.3km prior to Ngakuta Bay when travelling towards Picton, started this week with site clearance.

Work to realign the road and repair a slip is nearing completion 70m past Governors Bay when travelling towards Picton. Crews have completed the sight rail installation and carried out line marking this week. 

Please note there will be increased truck movements while work is being carried out. Please plan ahead for delays.

Please keep to the reduced temporary speed limits when you're travelling through our worksites to ensure the safety of crews and road users. We thank you for your patience.

Crews construct gabion baskets as they build up the wall near Cullen Point

The sight rail has been installed near Tepuia Heights 

Installation of whalers and backfilling at the second retaining wall near Aussie Bay

Waihopai Valley

Last week and this week crews have been undertaking work on the foundation piles at the new bridge site on Waihopai Valley Road.

The current bailey bridge will continue to operate as crews build the new bridge. Please expect increased activity around this area. 

The installation of foundation piles at the new bridge site