04/10/2026
Our summer maintenance season is underway in Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough.
This year our programme will renew just over 100 lane kms of state highways across the top of the south region resulting in safer, smoother journeys. Most of the work will be done under stop/go traffic management, with some night time closures required to minimise disruption.
This includes road rebuilding, resurfacing - removing the top layer of road and replacing it with a new, pre-mixed layer of stone, bitumen, and other materials; and resealing which involves spraying a layer of hot bitumen or emulsion onto the road, before spreading stone chips over it. These chips take time to settle into the surface, and any loose ones are swept away a few days later. This work has to be done when the weather is warm and dry.
In Tasman you’ll see maintenance work on SH6 Wai-iti, SH6 Wakefield, SH6/SH60 near Three Brothers roundabout, SH65 Shenandoah, SH60 Puramahoi and SH60 Tākaka Hill.
We’ll also resume proactive resilience work on SH6 at Granity Narrows on Monday 5 October after pausing over winter due to wet ground conditions. Resilience work is also planned on SH6 Hope Saddle in early 2027.
In Nelson recovery work on SH6 Rocks Road is on track for completion in November. In February we’ll carry out work on SH6 Whangamoa Saddle.
In Marlborough you’ll see maintenance work on SH1 Weld Pass, SH1 near Riverlands, SH1 Grove Road, SH63 near Lake Argyle, SH63 near Delta Lakes Heights, SH6 in Havelock and SH6 near Pelorus Bridge.
You can read more about the summer work programme here: State Highway maintenance programme shifts into gear in the top of the South Island | NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi
You can keep up to date with our work across the top of the South Island by subscribing to our summer newsletter https://nzta.govt.nz/maintenance-updates