This Week's Summary

River training works continued this week at the Kennet River in Awatere Valley. This work is to further protect the river bank and road. 

Works are nearing completion to repair a roadside scour, at the Havelock Causeway, 200m from the SH6 turnoff near Havelock.

Hydroseeding is planned for Port Underwood Road from Monday 29 May. 

Daytime construction closures for culvert works are planned on Kenepuru Road, on Friday 26 May between Cowshed Bay and Lawrence Road and from Monday 29 May between Tara Bay Road to Lawrence Road.

Emergency works are planned on Croisilles-French Pass Road at Fitzroy Bay, approximately 2km from the Bryants Road turnoff. These works will be undertaken under a daytime construction closure, with hourly openings from Thursday 1 June. 

Please see the road closure section for more information including timings. 

There are no planned works over Kings Birthday Weekend, Saturday 3 to Monday 5 June.

Please follow all traffic management signage and be aware of a large number of truck movements on roads throughout the recovery zone. 

Marlborough District Council will be removing all of the temporary rubbish skips from the Kenepuru at the end of May.

Keep reading for information on:

• Marlborough Sounds Future Access Study
• Road Closures
• Winter Resilience Works
• Restricted Access Roads
• Resident Definition
• Awatere Valley Road
• French Pass
• Kenepuru 
• Port Underwood
• Queen Charlotte Drive
• Support

Information and Support

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

Visit Marlborough District Council's website for a fortnightly Marlborough Recovery Update, posted on a Friday afternoon. 

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 8am - 5pm, Monday to Friday

Email: recovery@marlboroughroads.com

The next phase of public engagement for the Marlborough Sounds Future Access Study starts next month.

The project team is planning seven drop-in sessions from 20 to 28 June around the Sounds and in Picton, Blenheim and Nelson. There will also be an online webinar if you can’t make one of the drop-in sessions.

At the drop-ins you will be able to view an ‘emerging preferred option’ for each of the five storm-damaged areas of the Sounds and ask the project team questions. Other information about the study will also be available. 

An online survey will also be on the project web page from 20 June, with your feedback due by 11 July.

Read the media statement from Marlborough District Council for more details.

Click here to RSVP for a drop-in session. 

Road Closures

There are daytime construction closures plannedd from Monday to Friday (not including public holidays) at the following locations, dates and times;

Kenepuru Road 

Closures on Kenepuru Road are in place for culvert works. There will be a lunchtime opening between 12.00pm and 12.30pm for these closures. 

• On Friday 26 May between Cowshed Bay (RP28.1) and Lawrence Road  from 8.00am to 4.00pm with a lunchtime opening between 12.00pm and 12.30pm.
   
• From Monday 29 May to Thursday 1 June, between Tara Bay Road and Lawrence Road (Rp28.1) from 8.00am to 4.00pm with a lunchtime opening between 12.00pm and 12.30pm. 
   
• On Friday 2 June between Tara Bay Road and Lawrence Road (Rp28.1) from 8.00am to 12.00pm.
   

Croisilles-French Pass Road

Closures are planned for emergency works to be undertaken on Croisilles-French Pass Road at Fitzroy Bay, approximately 2km from the Bryants Road turnoff.

• On Thursday 1 and Friday 2 June, from 9.00am to 4.00pm with openings on the hour, every hour to allow queued traffic through. 
   
• From Tuesday 7 June, from 8.00am to 4.30pm with openings on the hour, every hour to allow queued traffic through.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

There may be works undertaken outside of these closures under stop/go traffic management. Please follow all traffic management and expect delays. 

Works are weather dependent. If there are any changes to the above, an Antenno will be sent. 

Winter Resilience Works

The Marlborough Roads Recovery Team is working on maintenance fixes to build road resilience around the Sounds as we head into winter. 

Work is underway to install new culverts in the Kenepuru area, strengthening of some road pavements for vehicles is continuing, and there is grading and gravelling work in areas.

Restricted Access Roads

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

Some roads remain restricted to resident and emergency or essential services access only and some with other restrictions.

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

Kenepuru Road to the Heads and its side roads, including Moetapu Bay Road, are restricted to residents and emergency or essential services only. They are not suitable for non-residents.

The section of Kenepuru Road between Linkwater to the Heads and its side roads, has severe storm damage and entry into this section of the road is at resident and emergency or essential services drivers' discretion.

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

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

The following restrictions also apply on Kenepuru and Moetapu Bay roads;

• No campervans, vans or buses.
• Only 4WD and light vehicles under 3.5 tonnes. No HCV.
• On Kenepuru Road, between Moetapu Bay to The Heads, no vehicles more than eight metres in length.

There are the following hazards on Kenepuru Road:

• Slips
• Drop outs
• Single lane in places
• Increased hazard during rain
• Uneven surfaces and gravel sections
• Queen Charlotte Drive is open to all vehicles less than 12.6m.

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.

If you know any non-residents who might be considering visiting the Kenepuru area, please advise them to make use of the Council’s water taxi subsidy. Water taxi services can be booked through the Picton, Blenheim and Havelock i-SITES or directly with the provider.

Visit the Marlborough District Council Website for more information. 

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 land, 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. 

Awatere Valley Road

Works resumed this week at Kennet River on river bed training to protect the river bank and the road from scouring.

River bed training works at Kennet River

French Pass

Asphalt works have recently been completed on various sites along Croisilles Road and Croisilles-French Pass Road. 

To undertake emergency works at an underslip on Croisilles-French Pass Road,  a daytime construction closure will be in place at Fitzroy Bay, approximately 2km from the Bryants Road turnoff.

The closures will operate on Thursday 1 and Friday 2 June, from 9.00am to 4.00pm with openings on the hour, every hour to allow queued traffic through.

From Tuesday 7 June, the closures will be in place from 8.00am to 4.30pm with openings on the hour, every hour to allow queued traffic through.

Kenepuru

Culvert replacement works have now been completed near the Waitaria Bay School and between Portage and the Heads.

The daytime construction closure on Kenepuru Road from Cowshed Bay (RP28.1) and Lawrence Road will remain in place on Friday 26 May from 8.00am to 4.00pm with a lunchtime opening between 12.00pm and 12.30pm.

On Saturday 27 May slip clearance works will be completed under stop/go traffic management, please expect delays. 

From Monday 29 May to Thursday 1 June,  the closure will move to between Tara Bay Road and Lawrence Road from 8.00am to 4.00pm with a lunchtime opening between 12.00pm and 12.30pm.

On Friday 2 June the closure will operate between Tara Bay Road and Lawrence Road from 8.00am to 12.00pm. 

There are no planned works over Kings Birthday Weekend, Saturday 3 to Monday 5 June. 

Marlborough District Council will be removing all of the temporary rubbish skips from the Kenepuru at the end of May.

Replaced culvert on Elie Bay Road. 

Port Underwood Road

Last week culvert works were completed on Port Underwood Road at Waingaro Bay, 17km from Picton. 

Hydroseeding is scheduled to be undertaken on Port Underwood Road from Monday 29 May. These works will incur minor delays as they move along the road. 

Queen Charlotte Drive

Works on the Havelock Causeway, 200m from the SH6 Havelock turnoff are nearing completion.  

Concrete is planned to be poured on the final section of the Causeway on Saturday, weather permitting. Final clean up works will be undertaken next week at this site. 

Next week minor slip clearence is planned at various sites on Queen Charlotte Drive. 

Support

Community Meetings

The Marlborough Recovery Team have hosted a number of community events including the recent Marlborough Sounds Future Access Study meetings. For more information view Council's Fortnightly Recovery Updates and the Future Access Study 

Barge Subsidies

Council will underwrite barge subsidies into the Kenepuru and Queen Charlotte Sounds to assist residents impacted by the August 22 storm event. 

Water Taxi Subsidies

Marlborough District Council with funding support, will subsidise water taxi services for residents, workers and visitors to the areas in the Marlborough Sounds that were previously accessible by road. 

For more information on any of these services, visit Marlborough District Council's Website.