24 October, 12:20 pm

Contractors are continuing to work to reopen State Highway 6 between Kohatu and Murchison today.

Treefalls are being cleared at various locations -  Hope Saddle, Norris Gully, and Kohatu. Sections of the highway will be reopened as this work progresses.

At the underslip site, near Coal Creek Bridge, contractors are working hard to build a temporary lane to allow traffic, including heavy vehicles, to pass through the site. The aim is to reopen this section of State Highway 6 later today.

Further updates on the highway’s status will be provided by 5 pm today. It can also be checked on the NZTA/Waka Kotahi website.

Highway conditions for Nelson and Marlborough(external link)

24 October, 9:15 am

Closure points  have been shortened, and a section of State Highway 6 has reopened south of Wakefield this morning.

State Highway 6 is now OPEN between Wai-iti and Kohatu.

The highway remains CLOSED between Kohatu and Murchison.

23 October, 4:05 pm

State Highway 6 is to remain CLOSED north of Murchison today and overnight.

Contractors are working hard to restore the highway near Coal Creek Bridge to one lane. However, the ongoing bad weather and heavy rain has meant it has not been possible to complete a temporary lane at the slip site.

Because the scour is undercutting the road and is affecting a road lane, the highway has to be kept closed for safety reasons.

Crews will continue to work to reopen the road tomorrow.

SH6 closure extended

Meanwhile, fallen trees along State highway 6 at Hope Saddle, Norris Gully and  Kohatu mean the closure of the Highway has been extended northwards. It is now CLOSED between Murchison and Wai-iti ( just south of Wakefield).

NZTA/Waka Kotahi understands this is a critical transport link and appreciates the ongoing closure is cause disruption and delay for the public.

Every effort is being made to get the route restored as soon as possible and an update on its status will be provided by midday tomorrow.

The highway’s status can be checked on the NZTA/Waka Kotahi website.

• Highway conditions for Nelson and Marlborough | NZTA Journey Planner

23 October, 8:25 am

State Highway 6 remains closed to all traffic near Coal Creek Bridge this morning.

Efforts are being made to reopen the highway to one lane. However, with bad weather forecast for the area, it may affect recovery works.

Update’s will be provided when the highway’s status changes.

22 October, 6:10 pm

State Highway 6 is to be closed overnight near the Coal Creek Bridge, south of the Owen River, due to a deteriorating underslip.

The underslip, which is to undergo repairs, has suffered river scouring following recent bad weather, which has seen further damage develop on the highway.

The site has been assessed, and it  is considered it safer for drivers for the highway to be closed overnight.

State Highway 6 will be closed between Kawatiri Junction and Murchison from 7 pm tonight and the road will be reassessed early tomorrow morning.

Road crews will carry out emergency repairs, and the intention is to restore the route as quickly as possible.

There are no available local road detours. This means there will be no direct access for people travelling between Nelson/Marlborough and Murchison, and between Nelson and the West Coast.