Residents and regular users of State Highway 1 in Marlborough need to be ready for a series of night closures at Weld Pass beginning this Sunday, 9 October.
Between Sunday, 9 October and Thursday, 13 October, the road will be closed between 10 pm and 6 am. Access through the site will be available for emergency services if required.
The closures will allow essential maintenance work to be done. This includes preparation for asphalting work planned for January next year.
Night closures are required because State Highway 1 Weld Pass is a narrow, winding road, with no room for vehicles to pass roadwork sites safely. Using stop/go traffic management during this work isn’t feasible for safety reasons - both for road users and work crews. A full closure also allows contractors to work uninterrupted and complete this maintenance much faster.
Road users are urged to check the highway’s status and plan their travel while this work is underway. The only alternative route between Picton and Christchurch will be the inland route via Murchison and the Lewis Pass – this adds 90 minutes to two hours to travel times between Christchurch and Picton.
More night closures for State Highway 1 Weld Pass are planned for resealing work between 22 January and 3 February 2023.
Waka Kotahi wants to thank road users for their patience and understanding while this essential maintenance work is carried out.
