The situation at Rocks Rd is "serious" says NZTA, forcing the major route to Nelson city to remain closed after heavy rainfall on Friday and Saturday.
However, Nelson’s link to Murchison and the West Coast was restored this afternoon with the reopening of State Highway 6 between Belgrove and Kohatu.
SH6 Rocks Road:
Mark Owen, Regional Manager Lower North Island/Top of the South, says the situation with Rocks Rd is serious.
“We have had crews up assessing the site, removing the material, and monitoring earth movement over the weekend.”
“This has shown that, for safety reasons, State Highway 6 Rocks Rd must remain closed,” says Mark.
He says NZTA/Waka Kotahi will continue to work with Civil Defence and the Nelson City Council on the matter
“We will work together to develop a solution, and we will do this as quickly as possible.
“However, it does mean the road closure must remain in place until further notice. There is a clear and present risk to public safety, which must be carefully managed,” says Mark.
The closure will have a significant impact on traffic flows in and out of the city and drivers are being warned they must be ready for it.
“Thousands of vehicles use this route daily, shifting them on to the detour route on Waimea Rd will create congestion and delays - especially during morning and afternoon rush hours. We also ask that drivers use Waimea Rd as the detour and avoid using smaller residential streets.
“People need to be ready for this and plan their travel accordingly. If you can use public transport to get to work or delay your trip in and out of the city, please do so. This will help reduce pressure on the network,” says Mark.
He also asks that the public respect the closure points in place.
“They are there to keep the public safe. Falling material has a very real potential to badly hurt or even kill you. Please stay clear while we work to reopen the road.”
Mark says steps are in place ensure access to local businesses is available.
“They need to keep operating, which is why we have soft closure is in place at the intersection of Russell St. People can get to these businesses and shops – we just ask no-one travel between Bisley Ave and Richardson St.”
SH6 Belgrove to Kohatu:
Mark says contractors made fantastic progress to reopen this section of State Highway 6, earlier today.
“It wasn’t just heavy rain that hammered the region over Friday and into Saturday, wind was a major problem too.
“Hundreds of trees were brought down along this section of State Highway 6, and it has been an immense job to get them cleared, as well as tackle slips, rockfalls, and washouts. It also means the transport link between Nelson and the West Coast is restored,” he says.
He says the other good news is that the stop bank built at Kohatu after the Motueka River breached its banks two weeks ago has held up well.
“This area was particularly hard hit just two weeks ago and it’s great to see the protection put in place worked.”
General Advice:
All other state highways are open, but it is not business as usual on the roads or for driving.
In Marlborough, State Highway 63, Korere-Tophouse Road to Waihopai Valley Road remains restricted to residents and essential travel only.
State Highway 60 Tākaka Hill, while open to light and heavy vehicles, has suffered slip and washout damage and extra care and time is needed when travelling this route. It is vulnerable to further disruptions and possible closure.
Across the network, because of weather damage, drivers must drive to the conditions and take extreme care when travelling. There remains an ongoing risk of slips, rock and tree falls, and the potential for further road closures. These may happen at short notice.
Road users can expect to encounter multiple road work and repair sites across the region and must allow extra time for their journeys.
Please follow all traffic management and temporary speed limits in place. They are there to keep the public and work crews safe.
