New resilience work will begin next week to help future-proof State Highway 6 on the Rai Saddle in Marlborough.
Contractors will be on-site from Monday, 14 October, with work expected to continue until late November.
Rob Service, System Manager Top of the South Island, says they will improve drainage and address under-slips by redirecting stormwater on three one-kilometre sections of the highway.
“This will help mitigate the impact of bad weather and heavy rainfall on the highway between Nelson and Blenheim.”
“Each section will be completed one at a time to reduce the impact on drivers, with crews starting at the top of the Rai Saddle and working their way down towards the Mt Richmond Estate Motels,” Mr Service says.
He says contractors will install pipework, kerbs and barriers to redirect stormwater at each work site, which is critical in hillside areas like the Rai Saddle.
“Making these improvements and increasing the highway’s resilience will help keep the road open in bad weather and help protect this critical state highway link between Nelson and Marlborough.”
“It’s about making the highway stronger and better prepared for future disruption,” Mr Service says.
During the work, one highway lane will remain open under stop/go temporary traffic management 24/7. A temporary speed limit of 30 km/h will also be in place. Road users can expect delays of up to five minutes.
Mr Service says while the impact of this work on road users will be minimal, it’s important people with ferry connections or appointments plan ahead given other works currently underway on State Highway 6 between Nelson and Blenheim.
“Allow yourself an extra 30 minutes to get over the hill to ensure you make your destination in time,” he says.
The work on the Rai Saddle is funded by the Crown Resilience Programme, which is set up to cover the cost of resilience improvements on the state highway network and minimise damage from future weather events.
Mr Service says two years ago, State Highway 6 had to be closed for major repairs following a major flood.
“Locals know only too well how big an impact floods can have on their ability to get around. Investments like this can make a big difference,” Mr Service says.
