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.

A scheduled closure of Daltons Bridge to all traffic is also planned on Thursday 9 May, from 9am to 3pm.

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 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).
• The installation of a new culvert near Moenui Road.
• A new railway iron wall site, 450m before Moenui Road, when travelling towards Picton.
• A road retreat site, 180m past Tepuia Heights, when travelling towards Picton. 
• The installation of two railway iron walls approximately 1.9km and 2.1km 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 will be temporarily removed for maintenance, scheduled for Wednesday 1 May. Please see the French Pass section for more information. 

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 began on Port Underwood Road last week. This work is approximately 4km from the Picton end of Port Underwood Road, near Whatamango Bay. 

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

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, Portage and along Mahau Road.

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

A closure is planned on Daltons Bridge, at the start of Kaiuma Bay Road for inspections to help inform designs.

• Thursday 9 May, 9am to 3pm. 

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 French Pass and D'Urville Island cranes will be temporarily removed for maintenance.

Removal of the cranes on the Elmslie Jetty, French Pass and Kapowai Jetty, D'Urville Island are scheduled for Wednesday 1 May. 

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 for removal and return of the cranes, are all weather permitting.

Work on the new boat ramp in French Pass township is now planned for late June 2024. This will allow crews to work in with tide times. More information will be shared in this update once the dates are confirmed.

The French Pass and D'Urville Island cranes are being temporarily removed for maintenance

Kenepuru

Works on Kenepuru Road, to install an anchored retaining wall just prior to Portage near the Torea Road intersection, have started last week. This week and next week crews are working on the underslip repair. These works will be carried out under priority giveway.

Culvert upgrades and water channel clearance work has started on Akerbloms Road. This work will continue next week under stop/go traffic management and is weather dependent.

Grading is being undertaken in the Kenepuru area over the next month. The crew are currently working in the Titirangi area and will then head to Anakoha Road. These works are weather dependent. 

Surfacing works on Kenepuru Road, is planned to start next week, once the crew have completed these works on Moetapu Bay Road. 

Building a ramp to access the retaining wall site at Torea on Kenepuru Road

Moetapu Bay Road

Pavement construction and water table improvement work started last week at various locations on Moetapu Bay Road.

These works are scheduled to be completed by the end of this week. The crew will then move to Kenepuru Road.

This work is being carried out under stop/go traffic management.

Northbank

Sealing work was carried out last week, approximately 7km up Onamalutu Road from the Northbank Road turnoff.

This site is now complete except for brush planting, which is scheduled to take place in July. 

Sealing works at the rock revetment site, Onamalutu Road

Pelorus

A closure is planned on Daltons Bridge for Thursday 9 May from 9am to 3pm. This is for inspections to be carried out, to help inform designs. 

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 began last week 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.

Last week the removal of the existing kerb and channel along with the loose material from the underslip was carried out. This week and next week crews are constructing a retaining wall and installing a culvert at this location. 

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

Removing the existing kerb and channel at the new retaining wall site, 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 crews will continue building the MSE wall from the base upwards. 

Work to install a new culvert and repair the road continues, just prior to Moenui Road when travelling from Havelock. Last week and this week crews built the upstream culvert inlet. Next week, crews will begin construction of a MSE wall for the permanent embankment.

The construction of a road retreat has started this week, approximately 180m past Tepuia Heights, on Queen Charlotte Drive, when travelling towards Picton. 

The construction of two railway iron walls, approximately 1.9km and 2.1km past Tepuia Heights, on Queen Charlotte Drive when travelling towards Picton, is close to completion. The installation of site rails has been carried out this week. Users of the Link Pathway will continue to be guided through these sites by traffic management.

Work to complete drainage upgrades and repair a dropout, 750m past The Grove Jetty, has now been completed, with the exception of linemarking. 

A new railway iron wall site, 450m before Moenui Road, when travelling towards Picton is scheduled to begin next week.

Work continues 450m past Aussie Bay. There are two new retaining walls within this site. Last week, preparation for sealing was carried out at the first wall. At the second retaining wall site, test anchor drilling was carried out last week. Next week anchor testing and 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 are working on a partial retreat requiring earthworks.  

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 are constructing the Cullen Point wall from the base upwards

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