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 road closure is scheduled on Tuesday 4 and Wednesday 5 June on Maungatapu Road. (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 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 D'Urville Island jetty crane has 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.

Drainage improvements, construction of gabion baskets and road improvements are scheduled to be carried out next week on Maungatapu Road.

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 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:

• Kenepuru Road Restrictions
• Road Closures 
• Other Road Restrictions
• Resident Definition
• French Pass
• Kenepuru 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. A diversion is in place via Te Hoiere Road. 

Maungatapu Road 

A road closure is scheduled on Maungatapu Road, 12.8km from the Pelorus Bridge, SH6 turnoff as follows: 

• Tuesday 4 and Wednesday 5 June
• 8am - 5pm with a half hour opening between 12.30pm-1pm.

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 crane on Elmslie Jetty, French Pass has been returned and following additional works last Friday, is fully operational.

The crane on the Kapowai Jetty; D'Urville Island has been removed for maintenance and is scheduled to be returned on Thursday 30 May (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. 

Kenepuru

Work on Kenepuru Road to install an anchored retaining wall just prior to Portage near the Torea Road intersection is underway. Last week crews carried out underslip repairs. This week micropile and anchor work has been undertaken. These works are planned to continue over the coming months and are being carried out under a priority giveway.

Pavement construction has been carried out this week on the section of Kenepuru Road from Nikau Cove to The Heads. This work is scheduled to continue next week. Sealing works are planned to be undertaken this week between Nikau Cove and 1.8km past Black Rock (weather dependent). Sealing works are planned for the next two weeks under stop/go traffic management with short delays expected.

Last week a 12m long culvert was installed on Akerbloms Road.

In the coming weeks, grading will be carried out in the Kenepuru area. This work is weather dependent.

Sealing work on Kenepuru Road 

Excavation work on the new retaining wall near Torea on Kenepuru Road

Northbank

Work on the Top Valley Bridge on Northbank Road, 31.5km from the SH6 turnoff is underway. Road reinstatement and sealing is planned at this site next week (weather dependant).  

Last week rockfall removal work was carried out on Northbank Road, approximately 2km from the start of the road. These works are being carried out under stop/go traffic management.

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. 

Bridge abutment work on Top Valley Bridge

Pelorus

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

A road closure is scheduled on Maungatapu Road, 12.8km from SH6 turnoff at Pelorus Bridge on Tuesday 4 and Wednesday 5 June from 8am-5pm, with a half hour opening between 12.30pm and 1pm. 

Drainage improvements, construction of gabion baskets and road improvements started this week on Maungatapu Road, between 7km to 14km from the SH6 turnoff at Pelorus Bridge. 

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.

Last week piles were drilled and concreting was carried out. This week lagging has been installed, with a culvert installation planned next week. 

This work is expected to be completed in June, weather permitting.  

Surface water channel clearance is planned on Port Underwood Road from approximately 5km beyond Whatamango Bay to the Tumbledown Bay Road intersection. These works are being undertaken as part of the road maintenance programme and are planned from Monday 27 May to Friday 7 June. These works are being undertaken at night from 4.30pm to 4am when there are fewer heavy vehicles on the road. 

Drilling on Port Underwood Road 

Installing gabions at the retaining wall site 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. Crews continue building the MSE wall from the base upwards. 

A new railway iron wall site, 450m before Moenui Road, when travelling towards Picton is currently awaiting design updates before further works can begin. 

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 backfilling and the construction of the MSE wall for the permanent embankment, has been undertaken. 

A road retreat is currently underway approximately 180m past Tepuia Heights, on Queen Charlotte Drive, when travelling towards Picton. Last week and this week the installation of two new culverts and road realignment work was undertaken, along with preparation for pavement construction. Sealing works are planned in the next week, weather permitting. 

Work continues 450m past Aussie Bay, at the first retaining wall. Sealing work is scheduled to take place this week, weather permitting. At the second retaining wall site, augering and the installation of retaining wall H piles was carried out this week and is scheduled to continue next week. 

Work to realign the road and repair a slip continues 70m past Governors Bay when travelling towards Picton. Road reinstatement works is underway and sealing is scheduled to be undertaken early next week, weather permitting. 

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.

Road realignment near Tepuia Heights

Backfilling at the new Moenui culvert 

Waihopai Valley

A crane has established onsite and drilling is underway at 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