Source: New Zealand Transport Agency
Work to make one of Nelson’s main arterial links safer for road users will begin next month.
Starting in November, contractors will undertake important recovery work on State Highway 6, Rocks Road.
This will help protect one of the region’s most heavily used routes – including the 22,000 road users who use it every day – by ensuring it is more resistant to weather events, slips and rockfalls in the future.
SH6 Rocks Road work site
Rob Service, System Manager Nelson-Tasman, says this will be an extensive programme of work, which is why it has been broken up into several phases.
“The first phase will run from Sunday, 2 November, and is expected to conclude in March 2026”.
“It will include completing critical rock scaling work and removing vegetation and old netting along the southern section of the cliff face, closest to Tāhunanui Beach. This will be followed by the installation of new mesh netting that will be anchored to the cliff face,” Mr Service says.
Other methods such as shotcrete or matting will be used in other locations to prevent further erosion of cliff face material while encouraging natural revegetation.
Mr Service says previous winter storms show how vital this work is.
“During June and July this year, soil and rock, primarily from the top of the cliffs, fell and closed the road, creating significant disruption for road users in Nelson. It also highlighted additional instability along sections of the cliff.”
“The investment we are making is about improving safety, and maintaining and protecting a critical regional transport link,” Mr Service says.
Because contractors will be working above the road, Mr Service says steps must be taken to keep the public safe from the risk of falling debris.
“Traffic management will be in place throughout this project and may, at times, include temporary lane and road closures.”
“Our contractors will do their best to keep traffic delays to a minimum but, unfortunately, we cannot do projects like this without affecting traffic. Drivers should expect disruption and travel delays as work takes place.”
“Please bear with us as we complete this critical investment into creating safer and more reliable roads,” Mr Service says.
Businesses along Rocks Road will also remain open during these works, and access to them will be retained. Locals are encouraged to continue supporting them while the project is underway.
Upcoming works
- Sunday, 2 November to Friday, 21 November. Sunday to Thursday, 8 pm – 5:30 am
- Stop/Go traffic management.
- At times, Stop/Stop traffic management will be used during the installation of new mesh netting on the cliff face. Traffic will be stopped in both directions for temporary periods of time.
- We will try to communicate any changes in traffic management set up before they occur.
