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 due to recent flooding and a diversion is in place via Te Hoiere Road.

Multiple work sites on Queen Charlotte Drive between the mechanically stabilised earth (MSE) wall site near Cullen Point and Governors 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).
• A new railway iron wall site, 450m before Moenui Road, when travelling towards Picton.
• 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.
• Road realignment and slip repairs at Governors Bay. 

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

The French Pass and D'Urville Island jetty cranes have been temporarily removed for maintenance. Please see the French Pass section for more information. 

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 is currently underway.  

The construction of a retaining wall and installation of a culvert on Port Underwood Road is underway. 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 began this week. 

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.

Keep reading for information on:

• Kenepuru Road Restrictions
• Road Closures 
• Other Road Restrictions
• Resident Definition
• French Pass
• Kenepuru Road
• Moetapu Bay Road
• Northbank
• Pelorus
• Port Underwood Road 
• Queen Charlotte Drive
• Waihopai Valley

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 Closures

Daltons Bridge, Pelorus

Daltons Bridge is currently closed to heavy vehicles over 3500kg due to recent flooding. A diversion is in place via Te Hoiere Road.

Other 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

The cranes at the Elmslie Jetty; in French Pass and the Kapowai Jetty; on D'Urville Island have been temporarily removed for maintenance.  

The return of the crane on Elmslie Jetty, French Pass is scheduled for Thursday 16 May. 

The return of the crane on Kapowai Jetty, D'Urville Island is scheduled for Thursday 30 May. 

Please be aware the above dates are weather permitting.

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. 

Grading is being undertaken in the French Pass area over the coming weeks. These works are weather dependent. 

The French Pass and D'Urville Island cranes have been temporarily removed for maintenance

Kenepuru

Work on Kenepuru Road to install an anchored retaining wall just prior to Portage near the Torea Road intersection is underway. This week crews are working on anchor testing. Next week work on the underslip is planned. These works are being carried out under priority giveway.

Culvert upgrades and water channel clearance work was carried out last week and this week on Akerbloms Road. These works have now been completed. 

Pavement construction and sealing has been carried out on Kenepuru Road this week and is scheduled to continue over the coming fortnight. This work will be completed under stop/go traffic management with short delays expected. 

Grading is being undertaken in the Kenepuru area over the coming weeks. This work is weather dependent.

Culvert upgrade on Akerbloms Road 

Moetapu Bay Road

Pavement construction and water table improvement work was carried out last week, followed by sealing this week on Moetapu Bay Road. 

New seal on Moetapu Bay Road 

Northbank

Work on the Top Valley Bridge on Northbank Road, 31.5km from the SH6 turnoff is underway. Last week and this week, crews have been placing rock on the bridge abutments and removing felled vegetation from the channel beneath the bridge. Next week crews are scheduled to reinstate the road and complete sealing works at this location. 

These works are being carried out under stop/go traffic management. 

Abutment bridge works at Top Valley Bridge on Northbank Road

Pelorus

Inspections to inform bridge designs were undertaken today on Daltons Bridge under a scheduled road closure. 

Daltons Bridge is currently closed to heavy vehicles over 3500kg. A diversion is in place via Te Hoiere Road.

Port Underwood Road

Construction of a retaining wall and installation of a culvert is currently underway 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 the hours of 7am and 7pm.

This week concreting of H piles has been carried out. Next week the construction of the retaining wall and the culvert installation is scheduled to continue. 

This work is expected to take approximately two months to complete. 

Installation and concreting of H piles at the retaining wall on Port Underwood Road

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 and associated drainage upgrades on Queen Charlotte Drive (approximately 1.7km from the SH6/Havelock turnoff) near Cullen Point, Mahakipawa Hill. This week and next week crews will continue building the MSE wall from the base upwards. 

A new railway iron wall site, 450m before Moenui Road, when travelling towards Picton has commenced.

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, backfilling and the construction of the MSE wall for the permanent embankment, is scheduled to be undertaken. 

A road retreat is currently underway approximately 180m past Tepuia Heights, on Queen Charlotte Drive, when travelling towards Picton. This week excavation has commenced at this site. 

Finishing works were undertaken last week on the construction of two railway iron walls, approximately 1.9km and 2.1km past Tepuia Heights, on Queen Charlotte Drive when travelling towards Picton. These sites have now been completed.  

Work continues 450m past Aussie Bay with two new retaining walls within this site. The installation and testing of anchors was carried out this week at the second retaining wall site. Next week auguring of piles is scheduled to be undertaken. 

Work to realign the road and repair a slip continues 70m past Governors Bay when travelling towards Picton. Last week and this week crews have poured a concrete dish channel. Next week road reinstatement is scheduled to start at this location. 

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.

The new concrete dish channel near Governors Bay 

Building of the new MSE wall near Cullen Point

Waihopai Valley

Crews have established and work has begun on Bridge 256, upstream from the current temporary bailey bridge on Waihopai Valley Road.

The current bailey bridge will remain in operation as crews build the new bridge, please expect increased activity around this area. 

More Information

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

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. 

Phone: 0800 213 213 or 03 520 8024, between 8.00am - 5.00pm, Monday to Friday.

Email: recovery@marlboroughroads.com