One additional night of closures is required to finish maintenance and resurfacing works on State Highway 1 Weld Pass.
13 February update:
One additional night of closures is required to finish maintenance and resurfacing works on State Highway 1 Weld Pass.
This is needed as a full closure couldn’t be run on Tuesday night after a serious crash closed the inland detour route on State Highway 7. Extra time is needed to complete work that couldn’t be finished while Weld Pass was kept open to ensure traffic could continue travelling between Blenheim and Christchurch.
It means the route will be closed to traffic between 7 pm and 5 am tomorrow night (Friday, 14 February), and reopen at 5 am on Saturday morning (15 February). There will be an opening at midnight to let queued traffic through.
NZTA/Waka Kotahi thanks drivers for their understanding as contractors work hard to complete this essential state highway maintenance.
30 January 2025 update:
Changes have been made to the work schedule and planned night closures for the Weld Pass maintenance night works.
Previously planned night closures for Friday, 7 February, and Saturday 8 February will no longer proceed. State Highway 1 will be open through Weld Pass on these nights.
Revised schedule:
Weather permitting, all work for State Highway 1 Weld Pass is due to be finished and the highway fully open by 5 am on Friday, 14 February.
22 January 2025 update:
Night-time closures begin on State Highway 1 Weld Pass next week, with the route receiving repairs and maintenance.
Night works will be underway from Wednesday, 29 January to Thursday, 13 February. Work will be carried out nightly between 7 pm and 5 am. The road will be reopened at midnight each night to let queued traffic through.
Allowances are being made for the Waitangi Day holiday. Contractors will stop work at five am on Wednesday, 5 February and won’t resume work until seven pm on Friday, 7 February.
Contractors will be carrying out structural asphalt work to strengthen the road surface on a 500m section of Weld Pass. This will include milling, or removing the old surface, before adding new layers. They will also maximise the closure by carrying out other maintenance work including clearing drainage and attending to signage and vegetation.
Because Weld Pass is a narrow road with limited space and the machinery being used occupies a lot of space, it must be closed to all traffic while the work is completed.
The full closure is safer for road crews and the public and will allow the work to be finished much faster, reducing the overall impact on road users
The closure will create delays for people travelling between Blenheim and Christchurch as there are no suitable local road detours.
The only alternative route between Christchurch and Blenheim is the inland route – Lewis Pass, Murchsion, St Arnaud – this is a much longer route and drivers, especially those with Picton ferry connections, must factor the night closures into their travel plans.
Other essential state highway maintenance work will be underway in Marlborough from late January - contractors will be resurfacing two roundabouts in Blenheim, making the most of the lower freight volumes travelling on State Highway 1.
Road users are urged to plan ahead and check the NZTA Journey Planner before they travel.
Other Marlborough state highway maintenance works:
Works schedule:
Works location:
More information