UPDATE: Road rebuild about to begin - State Highway 6, Brightwater (schedule change)
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi | 5 Feb 2026 2:40pm | Nelson and Marlborough
UPDATE 12 February:
Due to ongoing asphalting works for another roading project, the start date for the planned road rebuild of State Highway 6 in Brightwater has been delayed.
It will now start on Sunday 22 February, NOT Sunday, 15 February as previously indicated.
Revised schedule:
- Sunday, 22 February, to Thursday 12 March. Sunday to Thursday night, 8 pm – 5:30 am. Work will finish at 5:30 am on Friday 13 March.
- SH6 Lightband Road, Brightwater, between Factory Road and the Brightwater Deviation.
- Stop/go traffic management during work hours and a reduced temporary speed limit at all times.
- Expect delays of up to 15 minutes along State Highway 6.
Intersection closures - note the dates below are a guide only. If bad weather or unforeseen circumstances impact the work programme, the dates below may change.
- Sunday, 22 February, to Thursday, 26 February.
- SH6 Factory Road intersection CLOSED.
- Detour via SH6 Lightband Road and River Terrace Road
- Sunday, 29 February, to Thursday, 5 March.
- SH6 River Terrace Road intersection CLOSED.
- Detour via SH6 Lightband Road and Factory Road
- Sunday, 8 March, to Thursday, 12 March
- SH6 Ellis Street intersection CLOSED.
- Detour via SH6 Brightwater Deviation and Lord Rutherford Road North.
Local road detours will add up to five minutes to travel time.
5 February
People travelling on State Highway 6 in Brightwater, Tasman can expect a smoother ride once work to rebuild a section of the highway is completed.
Crews will begin work on Sunday, 15 February, to rebuild just over 550 metres of State Highway 6 between Factory Road and the Brightwater Deviation.
Work will be carried out at night, from 8 pm to 5:30 am, Sunday to Thursday nights (no work on Friday or Saturday nights) to minimise disruption.
Contractors will remove the existing road surface down to a solid foundation. The highway will then be rebuilt before asphalt is applied.
The result will be an improved, stronger, and safer section of State Highway 6 that will need less maintenance.
The highway will be open while work is underway but stop/go temporary traffic management will be in place during work hours.
A reduced temporary speed limit will be in place 24/7 until work is completed. For safety reasons, and to prevent damage to the road and vehicles, drivers must obey the lower speed limit at all times.
Drivers can expect delays of up to 15 minutes when travelling through the work site. At times, entry to, and exit from, State Highway 6 onto side roads within the work site will be closed and short detours will be in place. This is necessary to ensure the safety of our contractors and all road users as we complete the road rebuild.
These works are weather-dependent, and schedules may change if bad weather or any unforeseen circumstances occur. Road rebuilds and resurfacing require warm, dry conditions to be effective.
Cyclists will be accommodated through the site during work hours, and the State Highway 6 Brightwater Deviation underpass will remain open for cyclists and pedestrians while work is underway.
Consultation on a proposed Intersection Speed Zone (ISZ) that was completed in late 2025 is separate to this maintenance work. The outcome of this consultation is expected soon.
Works schedule and site location
- Sunday, 15 February, to Friday, 13 March. Sundays to Thursdays, 8 pm – 5:30 am.
- SH6 Lightband Road, Brightwater, between Factory Road and the Brightwater Deviation
- Stop/go traffic management during work hours and a reduced temporary speed limit at all times.
- Expect delays of up to 15 minutes along State Highway 6.
Intersection closures - note the dates below are a guide only. If bad weather or unforeseen circumstances impact the work programme, the dates below may change.
- Sunday, 15 February, to Thursday,19 February.
- SH6 Factory Road intersection CLOSED.
- Detour via SH6 Lightband Road and River Terrace Road
- Sunday, 22 February, to Thursday, 26 February.
- SH6 River Terrace Road intersection CLOSED.
- Detour via SH6 Lightband Road and Factory Road
- Sunday, 1 March, to Thursday, 5 March
- SH6 Ellis Street intersection CLOSED.
- Detour via SH6 Brightwater Deviation and Lord Rutherford Road North.
- Local road detours will add up to five minutes to travel time.
Other works
Other road rebuilding work is due to begin soon in Tasman. This includes:
State Highway 6 Upper Buller Gorge Road at Newton Flat – road rebuild
- From Monday, 9 February, to Friday, 6 March. Mondays to Fridays, from 7 am to 5 pm (no work on weekends).
- The highway will remain open but stop/go temporary traffic management will be in place.
- Expect delays of up to 15 minutes. A reduced temporary speed limit will be in place 24/7 until the work is completed.
SH63 St Arnaud-Kawatiri Highway, near Howard Valley Road - road rebuild
- From Monday, 2 March, to Tuesday, 31 March. Mondays to Fridays, from 7 am to 5 pm (no work on weekends).
- The highway will remain open but stop/go temporary traffic management will be in place.
- Expect delays of up to 15 minutes.
- A reduced temporary speed limit will be in place 24/7 until the work is completed.
Please plan ahead and check Journey Planner before travelling for up-to-date information on delay times at each site,