Plan for delays this weekend south of Nelson, afternoons may be better time to travel through Richmond - update Mon 6 December 2021

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is advising Tasman and Nelson drivers to expect delays and a longer journey time going through Richmond this weekend.

Update - Monday 6 December: Wet weather forecast for Tasman and Nelson last weekend means that a major piece of road resurfacing on the Richmond Deviation had to be postponed.

This work will now take place next year : the weekend of 15th - 16th January.  The back-up weekend will be 22nd - 23rd January. 

Highway sealing and widening work is needed ahead of the installation of median flexible safety barriers next year, to help prevent head-on crashes.

Work will be underway both Saturday and Sundays, 6 am to 6 pm on the Richmond Deviation. Detours will be in place each day from 6 am until 1 pm on the Deviation, part of SH6, in Tasman District.

The highway will be reduced to a single lane with southbound traffic (towards Richmond) detoured Saturday morning to 1 pm and northbound traffic (towards Nelson) detoured on Sunday at the same time. Crews will re-seal one side of the highway each day, making the most of the summer weather needed for a successful seal. A wide flush centreline is also being installed, increasing the distance between opposing lanes of traffic.

The weekend time has also been chosen as traffic volumes are lower than weekdays, disrupting fewer people.

During the detour periods in each direction, traffic will be diverted onto Salisbury Road, Talbot Street and McGlashen Avenue, says Waka Kotahi Journey Manager Tresca Forrester.

People should be prepared for significant delays all weekend and if possible, arrange essential travel outside the peak hours, says Ms Forrester. Waka Kotahi thanks all cyclists, drivers and people living on the detour route for their patience while this work is underway.

• Even outside the lane closure times, highway lane widths will be restricted and speeds reduced through the work site.
• For two days or so after the work is completed, speeds will continue to be lowered to help bed in the seal and avoid flying wet chip.
• The separated cycle path, part of the Great Taste Trail, will not be affected.
• If it is wet this weekend, work will move to the following weekend 11 and 12 December.

Detour routes

The detour route on both days will be via Salisbury Road, Talbot Street and McGlashen Avenue for southbound drivers, reverse order for northbound. People should expect this route to be busy given the lead-in to Christmas, particularly while one direction on the Deviation is closed through the morning to 1 pm.

Southbound Saturday detour below (northbound Sunday reverse arrows).

The big picture - safety

The benefits of safety barriers 

Plan ahead for a safe, enjoyable journey. Keep up to date with:

• COVID-19 services update: nzta.govt.nz/COVID19(external link)
• Traffic updates: journeys.nzta.govt.nz/traffic(external link)
• Facebook: facebook.com/NZTASouthIsland(external link)
• Twitter Top of the South: twitter.com/WakaKotahiTOTS(external link)
• Journey planner: journeys.nzta.govt.nz(external link)
• Phone: 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49)