State highway 6 provides access between the West Coast and Nelson and is an alternative route between Christchurch and Picton. This is a vital inland route for Nelson/Tasman and West Coast communities and an important freight connection.
We are improving resilience between SH6 Hope Saddle and SH65 Higgins Bluff to provide reliable and safe journeys.
The six high risk sites we’re investigating are:
The risks/hazards identified at these sites relate to rockfall, land slips and under slips.
The information we’re gathering at these six sites will help us to refine options to finalise a recommended approach.
We’ve been seeking feedback from targeted partners, stakeholders, emergency services, and community and freight groups on a short list of recommendations.
After the investigations are completed, our recommended approach will be submitted for endorsement, and we will seek funding from the National Land Transport Fund for completing design and construction.
The SH6 Frankton to Kingston corridor stretches more than 40km, following the shoreline of Lake Whakatipu and skirting the iconic mountain ranges of Kawarau, The Remarkables and Tapuae-o-Uenuku Hector Mountains. It’s a critical part of our transport network, used by more than 2,700 vehicles a day. It’s important to the local and regional community, including residents, commuters, local businesses, freight, and tourism operators.
This section of highway is exposed to different natural hazards including rockfalls, landslips, flooding and lakeside erosion. These hazards could increase in frequency and/or severity with changes in weather patterns so by being proactive now, we can plan how to build resilience into our infrastructure, to reduce the amount of emergency work needed on our roads and get them up and running faster after an event.
We’re carrying out technical investigations at eight locations along this corridor and talking with partners, stakeholders and the community as part of our investigation process, with the aim of identifying practical and cost-effective ways to increase the resilience of the corridor.
SH6 Frankton to Kingston focus area hazards [PDF, 9 MB]
SH94 is the only road to one of New Zealand’s most famous and well visited tourist attractions – Milford Sound Piopiotahi. It’s a vital link for visitors experiencing Milford Sound and for businesses and residents who need to travel between Milford and Te Anau.
There are many scenic stops along the route which is used by buses, vans, rental and private vehicles. The vulnerability of this corridor to flooding, avalanches, rockfall and land slips means the likelihood and consequences of closures along SH94 is far greater than most other state highways. It’s important that this corridor remains accessible for those who depend on it if a major event happens. Rockfalls and landslips are common on SH94, particularly during winter, and the ability to reopen the road following an incident is often impacted by weather and the remoteness of the corridor.
We’re investigating an 84km stretch of SH94 between Milford Sound and Te Anau Downs.
Our investigation will explore opportunities to reduce the impact natural hazards have on this road. As part of the investigations, we’re talking to targeted stakeholders to understand how they use the corridor, and the implications of closures for those who depend on it – local communities, businesses and tourists.
