Update 2 June:
The slip repairs are complete, and the highway is now open to all traffic.
Work was finished ahead of schedule on Thursday evening and the road reopened at around 10 pm.
Waka Kotahi wants to thank affected residents and road users for their patience and cooperation while these works were carried out.
Nelson and Tasman drivers travelling south on State Highway 6 will need to use a local road detour as slip repairs resume at Spooners Saddle from tomorrow morning Wednesday, 31 May.
The highway will be closed for 48 hours from 7 am to allow contractors to carry out further work to stabilise the slip face.
More overhanging material will be removed. The hill face will be benched, and catch fences repaired.
The nature of the site and the road's narrowness means a full closure is necessary. It is unsafe to have traffic in the slip zone near heavy machinery while the work is underway. However, closing the road will allow the work to be finished much faster.
The work will make the site safer and reduce the number of times road crews will be needed to be called out in the future to remove rockfalls and slips.
Waka Kotahi appreciates the closure will create delays for drivers. However, the slip repairs must be completed as quickly as possible to make the highway safe for all road users. We want to thank drivers for their patience and understanding while this work is carried out.
Works schedule
Detour route