People travelling on State Highway 6 between Hira and Rai Valley can expect to see contractors on site on the Whangamoa Saddle later this month.
Further resilience improvements are planned for the route from Monday, 19 May, with Stage Two of an ongoing programme set to begin.
Rob Service, System Manager Nelson/Tasman says this is a fragile section of State Highway 6 – a key corridor across the top of the South Island.
“This area is prone to washouts and underslips and stormwater is a major threat. This project will see new drainage works designed to control and redirect water flows that occur during heavy rain. The aim is to prevent uncontrolled erosion and damage to the highway.”
“Retaining and guiding stormwater flows to engineered discharge points helps reduce this risk,” Mr Service says.
Underslip and flood damage. SH6 Whangamoa Hill, August 2022.
This work will be undertaken at five separate sites over a nine-week period.
Work on these sites, between Hira and the top of the Whangamoa Saddle will be completed by the end of July, weather permitting. Work will be staggered with only two sites operating at the same time.
Mr Service says the project will affect traffic and travel times.
“This is unavoidable. We cannot do this sort of work without affecting the road and drivers. However, we always try to minimise disruption as much as possible
Drivers travelling between Nelson and Blenheim, while the work is underway from mid-May and the end of July must allow extra time for their journey with delays of up to 10 minutes at each site.
“This is particularly important for people travelling to the ferries or for hospital appointments.”
Mr Service appreciates this work will cause disruption but says it is essential for protecting and improving a critical transport link.
“Since the 2022 floods, we have made a significant investment in improving and protecting this route. This continues that investment, and more work is planned later this year. Please bear with us while our contractors work hard to complete this project.”
Contractors will return to the site in September to complete Stage Three of the project. This involves the construction and installation of concrete beams, which must be done when the weather conditions are warmer and drier.
