Blenheim to Nelson road to close
The Whangamoa Saddle, on State Highway 6 between Rai Valley and Hira, is closing at night during February.
NZTA/Waka Kotahi said the road would close for road resurfacing and maintenance.
Work is scheduled to run from 11 February until 1 March, dependent on weather, and during this time the road will close from 8pm until 5.30am Sunday to Thursday nights. No work will be done on Fridays and Saturdays.
The road will open once each night at 12.30am to let traffic through and drivers are urged to plan carefully to ensure they meet this schedule.
The work is the first major work on the saddle since the seven-week closure for flood repairs in 2022.
“We need to resurface parts of the highway before winter to ensure the highway is safe and in tip-top shape,” Rob Service, System Manager Top of the South said. “Road crews will also be clearing water channels and fixing guardrails. We have deliberately timed the work to happen at night and outside the busy holiday period to affect as few road users as possible.”
Full closure is need due to the narrowness of the road and the equipment being used.
“We realise road closures are disruptive but they’re the best option,” Mr Service said. “They are safer for our road crews and allow us to complete the work much faster.”
The alternate route for drivers wanting to travel overnight between Blenheim and Nelson is via State Highway 63.