Road Reconstruction:
Extra time is needed to complete road reconstruction work on State Highway 6 near Pelorus.
Originally scheduled to be completed this week, the project is now expected to be complete in mid-April.
Extra time is needed because more work needs to be done than originally anticipated. The way the work is being carried out has also changed.
Drivers can expect ongoing delays of up to 20 minutes when driving through Pelorus until Saturday, 22 March when drainage, road reconstruction and sealing work at the Havelock end of the site will be completed.
From Monday, 24 March, until mid-April, delays will reduce to 10 minutes as contractors shorten the site and carry out road reconstruction and sealing works at the Pelorus Bridge end.
Pelorus Bridge Maintenance:
Maintenance work on State Highway 6, Pelorus Bridge is also planned on the nights of Tuesday, 1 and Wednesday, 2 April.
Contractors will be water blasting the bridge, which must be done before the weather gets too cold to ensure the water doesn’t freeze. They will also replace some deck plank bolts.
To minimise disruption, this work has been scheduled to be done at night, beginning at 10:30 pm, once works at the road rebuilding site have finished for the day.
Works schedule:
SH6 Pelorus – road rebuilding:
SH6 Pelorus Bridge – nighttime maintenance:
All work is subject to weather and other unforeseen circumstances. In the event of unsuitable conditions work will be rescheduled to the next suitable night.
7 February 2025:
People travelling between Nelson and Blenheim can expect to see road works on State Highway 6 into March as investment into the region’s highway infrastructure continues.
These works are critical for ensuring the transport link between Blenheim and Nelson is kept safe and reliable for all road users.
Work will be getting underway at Havelock and near Pelorus from next week.
These works are critical for ensuring the transport link between Blenheim and Nelson is kept safe and reliable for all road users.
SH6 Pelorus works
From Monday 10 February, to Friday 21 March, Monday to Friday, 7am to 6pm, contractors will rebuild a 1.6-kilometre section of the highway near Pelorus.
They will remove the top layer of the road, lay new gravel, and then apply new chipseal on top. The end result is more stable and improved road surface.
Drainage works will also be completed, and the shoulder of the state highway will be widened. Road users can expect delays of up to 10-minutes during work hours until this work completed.
To ensure the chip-sealing is successful, this work must be done during the day when the weather is warmer.
A 30 km/h temporary speed limit will be in place while the work is underway. All drivers must follow it - it is there to protect the road surface, keep drivers safe, and protect vehicles for stone chip damage.
This work is deliberately planned to minimise disruption for drivers and has been timed to coincide with the State Highway 6 Whangamoa Saddle closure when there will be less traffic on the road.
People travelling between Nelson and Blenheim are also reminded of the upcoming night closures of the Pelorus Bridge on Sunday 23 February.
SH6 Havelock works – updated 12 February, dates changed and no work Saturday night: Thursday 13 February, Friday 14 February, Sunday 16 February, Monday 17 February and Tuesday 18 February between 7 pm to 7 am, contractors will also carry out nighttime asphalting work on State Highway 6 through the Havelock township. Work will be underway from just north of Neil Street to Allied Petrol. Stop/go traffic management will be in place during work hours with delays of up to 10 minutes.
Drivers are urged to check road conditions before they travel and plan their journeys accordingly. This is especially important for people with Picton ferry connections.
SH6 Pelorus – Daytime road rebuilding
SH6 Havelock – Nighttime asphalting – note dates changed 12 February
SH6 Whangamoa Saddle – night closures
SH6 Pelorus Bridge - works schedule and location
More information
