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.

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 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.

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 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 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 
• Other 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. 

The works 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. 

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. 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 Kapowai Jetty, D'Urville Island crane has been returned following its removal for maintenance. 

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, is underway. This week works have continued on the underslip repair and micropile testing has been carried out. These works will continue over the coming months.

Bund clearance is being undertaken on Kenepuru Road over the coming weeks. This week crews have been working between Ohingaroa Bay and Mahau Road. 

Sealing work has been undertaken this week between The Heads and Raetihi.

Pavement construction work has been carried out this week and sealing work is scheduled next week, from Portage through to the start of Kenepuru Road at Linkwater. 

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

Northbank

Willow trees were planted along the river's edge last week on Onamalutu Road, 7km from the Northbank Road turnoff. A culvert replacement has also been completed at this location this week. Over the next week willow trees will be planted on the rivers edge on Northbank Road, approximately 1.5km past Fabions Valley Road turnoff, when traveling up the valley. 

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. 

Installing a brush wall onto the riverbank, Onamalutu Road

Pelorus

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

Road improvements, water table clearance and culvert replacement work was carried out last week on Maungatapu Road, between 9km and 12.5km from the SH6 turnoff at Pelorus Bridge.

This week, the crew has continued work along Maungatapu Road undertaking road improvements, gabion basket installation and culvert work between 12.5km and 13.1km from the SH6 turnoff. 

Next week gabion basket installation water table and road improvements are scheduled to be undertaken between 13.8km and 14.2km from the SH6 turnoff. 

Water table clearance on Maungatapu 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 7am and 7pm.

Last week backfilling and work to install a culvert was carried out. This week culvert installation has continued along with preparations for kerb installation. Next week the kerb installation and pavement construction are planned. This work is expected to be completed later this month, weather permitting.  

Surface water channel clearance is being undertaken on Port Underwood Road from approximately 5km beyond Whatamango Bay to the Tumbledown Bay Road intersection. These works are part of the road maintenance programme and are planned on weekdays between 4.30pm and 4am until Friday 7 June.

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. Last week and this week the construction of the MSE wall upstream has been undertaken. The groundbeam and ground anchors upstream are scheduled to be constructed next week. 

A road retreat is nearing completion 180m past Tepuia Heights, on Queen Charlotte Drive, when travelling towards Picton. Last week pavement construction and sealing was completed with hydroseeding carried out this week. 

Work continues 450m past Aussie Bay; The first retaining wall is now complete with linemarking and minor finishing works scheduled to be carried out once the second wall has been completed. At the second retaining wall site, augering and the installation of retaining wall H piles was carried out last week. This week timber lagging and drainage work has been undertaken and backfilling is scheduled to be carried out next week. 

Work to realign the road and repair a slip is nearing completion 70m past Governors Bay when travelling towards Picton. Chip sealing was carried out last week. This week sight rails have been installed as this site nears completion. 

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.

Installation of H piles near Aussie Bay 

MSE wall being built from the base up, near Cullen Point 

Waihopai Valley

Drilling and piling is underway at Bridge 256, upstream from the current temporary bailey bridge 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.