This Week's Summary

Kenepuru Road to the Heads, and its side roads remain restricted to residents, emergency and essential services.

The road closures on Queen Charlotte Drive (approximately 1.7km from the SH6/Havelock turnoff for 300m) near Cullen Point, Mahakipawa Hill, have been extended by one week due to challenges driving the piles onsite. 

Closures that are underway are now planned to continue to Wednesday 6 March, excluding Sunday 3 March.

Please see the road closure section for more details on this closure. 

Crews have been drilling and installing steel spiral and concrete piles at this location as works continue on the construction of a MSE (Mechanically Stabilised Earth) wall.

There are multiple work sites on Queen Charlotte Drive between the road closure site near Cullen Point and Governors Bay.  Please allow more time for travel plans and expect delays. Worksite locations include:

• The installation of a new culvert near Moenui Road
• The constuction of a retaining wall 450m past Aussie Bay when travelling towards Picton.
• Road realignment and slip repairs at Governors Bay. 
• The installation of two railway iron walls approximately 1.9km and 2.1km past Tepuia Heights, when travelling towards Picton. 
• Drainage upgrades and repair of a dropout, 750m past The Grove Jetty when travelling towards Picton. 

Works to install culverts on Ronga Road continued this week and are expected to be completed next week.

Please ensure you keep within the posted traffic 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:

• Road Closures
• Kenepuru Road Restrictions
• Other Road Restrictions
• Resident Definition
• Awatere Valley Road
• French Pass
• Havelock/Pelorus
• Kenepuru Road
• Northbank
• Queen Charlotte Drive
• Ward

Road Closures

Queen Charlotte Drive (approximately 1.7km from the SH6 turnoff) for 300m near Cullen Point, Mahakipawa Hill.

Please note this closure has been extended due to challenges onsite with driving piles.

• Now until Wednesday 6 March, excluding Sunday 3 March, from 9.00am to 3.00pm, openings will be on the hour, every hour to clear waiting traffic.

The crew are working to complete the works requirng the closure, as quickly as possible. An update will be sent on Friday afternooon via Antenno. 

Outside of the above closures, this site will be under stop/go traffic management.

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.

Other Road Restrictions

Queen Charlotte Drive is open to all vehicles less than 12.6m. Vehicles over 12.6m must obtain a permit to drive on Queen Charlotte Drive. These permits can be obtained by emailing the Marlborough Roads NZTA office on MRoadsadmin@nzta.govt.nz.

Please note there is no longer a requirement for vehicles over 12.6m to be piloted on Queen Charlotte Drive. 

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. 

Awatere Valley Road

Marlborough District Council started watermain upgrades prior to Christmas on Awatere Valley Road between Nina Brook Bridge (approximately 7km from the start of the road) and Taylor Pass Road. These works are planned to run until end of March 2024. 

The above works will be undertaken under stop/go traffic management, please expect delays.

French Pass

Culvert replacement, drainage and road construction works have been carried out on Ronga Road this week. These works are scheduled to be completed early next week (weather permitting).  These works are being carried out under stop/go traffic management. 

Works for the new boat ramp in French Pass township are now planned for late June 2024 (previously notified as March). This will allow crews to work in with tide times. More information will be shared in this update once the dates are confirmed.

Culvert replacement works on Ronga Road

Havelock/Pelorus

Repair of the scours on Daltons Bridge's piers are scheduled to start next week, with crews establishing onsite Monday 4 March. Please be aware of some increased truck movements as they enter the site near the bridge. 

The above works will be carried out under stop/go traffic management. 

Kenepuru Road

The repair of a retaining wall and installation of a new culvert is now complete at RP28.3, just prior to Portage when travelling from the Queen Charlotte Drive turnoff.

Culvert installation and a retaining wall repair completed near Portage

Northbank

A culvert replacement was carried out this week on Northbank Road approximately 35.7km from the SH6 turnoff (2.75km past Top Valley Road when travelling up the valley).

Rock protection works and reinstatement of the carriageway was carried out last week and this week on Northbank Road, 22km from the SH6 turnoff. 

Rock revetment works are scheduled for the week of Monday 11 March, approximately 7km up Onamalutu Road from the Northbank Road turnoff. 

These works will be carried out under stop/go traffic management.

Rock protection works and reinstatement of the carriageway on Northbank Road 

Queen Charlotte Drive

Crews have been drilling and installing steel spiral and concrete piles as works continue on the construction of a MSE (Mechanically Stabilised Earth) wall, along with associated drainage upgrades on Queen Charlotte Drive near Cullen Point, Mahakipawa Hill.

Please note this closure has been extended by one week due to delays caused by the ground conditions when boring the 8 metre deep holes for this site. 

The closures will remain in place until Wednesday 6 March, excluding Sunday 3 March, from 9.00am to 3.00pm. Openings will be on the hour, every hour to clear waiting traffic.

The crew are working to complete the works requirng the closure, as quickly as possible. An update will be sent on Friday afternooon via Antenno.

Outside of these times, works will continue under stop/go traffic management, please expect delays.

In addition to the above closures, there will be increased works along the length of Queen Charlotte Drive during March with multiple recovery sites under construction.

Works to install a new culvert and repair the road are continuing, just prior to Moenui Road (when travelling from Havelock). Last week preparation works continued downstream for the culvert installation and two segments of the box culvert were installed. This week culvert outlet work has been carried out, along with installing wing walls and rock protection. The third section of the box culvert is scheduled to be installed next week. These works are under stop/go traffic management.

Works to realign the road and repair a slip have begun 70m past Governors Bay when travelling towards Picton. Over the past three weeks crews have been drilling and installing anchors at this location. These works are scheduled to continue next week. 

Works continue at a new retaining wall site, 450m past Aussie Bay. This week backfilling and drainage works have been carried out. Next week backfilling and road preparation works are scheduled at this location.

Works are scheduled to begin next week 750m past The Grove Jetty, when travelling towards Picton to complete drainage upgrades and repair a dropout. 

The construction of two railway iron walls is being carried out approximately 1.9 km and 2.1km past Tepuia Heights, on Queen Charlotte Drive when travelling towards Picton. Users of the Link Pathway will be guided through the above sites by traffic management.

A third railway iron site is also scheduled to start in the coming weeks, 450m before Moenui Road, when travelling towards Picton.

Please note there will be increased truck movements while these works are being carried out. Please plan ahead for delays.

Please ensure you keep within the posted traffic speed limits through our worksites to ensure the safety of crews and road users. We thank you for your patience.

Timber lagging and erosion protection in place at the Aussie Bay wall 

The construction of a new railway iron wall near Tepuia Heights on Queen Charlotte Drive

Ward

Riverbank works were carried out last week and are continuing on Ure Road this week.

Two sections are being worked on, the first is approximately 4.7km from the SH1 turnoff and the second section is approximately 7.7km from the SH1 turnoff.

Riverbank rock protection work near Ure Road 

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