All four main roads connecting Richmond and Nelson are undergoing road works at the same time due to a “compressed construction season”.
The four roads are owned by three separate authorities, bringing into question the communication between each of them.
This week, work on the Richmond Deviation will see the installation of traffic barriers. On Whakatu Drive, maintenance will take place at night during the week.
Both of these roads are owned by Waka Kotahi.
On Main Rd Stoke, a Nelson City Council road, works to upgrade the storm water system is on-going while the Tasman District Council-owned Salisbury Rd will have road works as an aged water main is upgraded.
Tasman District Council’s transport manager, Jamie McPherson, says while it is unusual for all three roads to be experiencing maintenance and infrastructure development at the same time, the respective road controlling authorities are working together to ensure disruption is minimised.
“All traffic lanes are still operating during peak traffic times.”
He says the trio of construction has come about from a compressed construction season, and unseasonal weather in an already compressed season.
Metservice records show the region received less than half the average recorded rainfall in January (27mm compared to 65.6mm), but a wet February saw the ‘summer’ rainfall numbers exceed average.
“It is helpful there are reduced numbers of vehicles on the road due to more people working from home however, we appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding while this important work takes place,” Jamie says.
The installation of the new traffic barrier on the Richmond Deviation closed the southbound lane of traffic (those heading from Nelson to Richmond) on Monday and Tuesday between 8pm and 5am.
Tonight, the stretch of road will be closed completely between 9pm and 5am.
At the same time, night closures have begun on Whakatu Drive between the Annesbrook and Raeward Fresh roundabouts, with the road closing at 8pm through to 5am, every night until Friday.
While this closure is in place, Waka Kotahi systems manager, Top of the South, Andrew James, says they will be catching up with some other highway, vegetation and streetlight maintenance which had been “a bit harder to fit in, due to the very wet summer”.
If weather, or any other issues interfere with the planned works, Whakatu Drive may also be closed overnight on Sunday, 20 March.
The detour for the closures on SH6 is via Main Rd Stoke and Salisbury Rd, however, both of these roads also have construction going on.
The replacement of an aged water main along Salisbury Rd will cause traffic disruption until July, while Main Rd Stoke has been disrupted since 2021 for the Saxton Creek flood protection upgrade.
Waka Kotahi journey manager Tresca Forrester says night-time is when traffic is at its lowest, so pressure on the detour route for residents is lower.
“However, we appreciate that there is work happening on council-managed roads also and we are working closely with the council traffic managers to minimise disruption as much as we can.”
“We understand that this will mean longer journey times for everyone, and we appreciate your patience,” Tresca says.
