Vehicle restrictions change for residents using Kenepuru Rd in the Marlborough Sounds

Residents of Kenepuru Rd within the Marlborough Sounds will be capable of tow trailers additional alongside the flood-damaged street from Friday.

The size and weight of automobiles had been restricted following injury to the street throughout flooding in July 2021 and August 2022. Repairs to the Marlborough Sounds street community are ongoing.

However after a security audit and geotechnical inspection, and suggestions from the police and the group, Marlborough Roads restoration supervisor Steve Murrin stated minor works had been finished to make the street protected for longer automobiles.

“Group suggestions was that with the ability to tow trailers permits them to have a bigger inventory of provides and fewer journeys to city,” he stated. It additionally meant residents might use boat launching areas at Double Bay, Torea, Portage and alongside Mahau Rd.

On Tuesday the Marlborough District Council confirmed that automobiles as much as 12.6m lengthy and 6 tonnes in weight might journey on Kenepuru Rd so far as Double Bay, and on facet roads Mahau Rd, Torea Rd and Moetapu Bay Rd.

Nevertheless the roads remained closed to the general public, and have been solely for use by residents and emergency or important service entry.

“Till main repairs have been accomplished at a few of the extra harmful websites, we’re unable to take away these restrictions”, Murrin stated.

“Though a lot work has been accomplished to revive entry for residents, these roads stay unsuitable for folks unfamiliar with the street.

“There may be additionally the likelihood that non-residents’ insurance coverage won’t cowl them if they need to have an accident on these roads.”

Guests to the Sounds might nonetheless make use of the council’s water taxi subsidy to entry areas beforehand accessible by street, Murrin stated.

Murrin stated hazards remaining on that part of Kenepuru Rd and Moetapu Bay Rd included slips and drop-outs. The street was additionally all the way down to a single lane in locations, with uneven surfaces and gravel sections, and was more and more hazardous within the moist.

These roads remained four-wheel-drive entry solely in gentle automobiles with no campervans, vans or buses, Murrin stated.

In the meantime, different restrictions remained in place on surrounding roads. No automobiles over 3.5 tonnes or 8m in size have been allowed on Moetapu Bay Rd, past Double Bay, and all different facet roads off Kenepuru Rd from the heads (excluding Torea and Mahau roads).

No automobiles over 12.6m have been allowed on Queen Charlotte Drive and not using a allow and no automobiles over 3 tonnes are allowed on Anakiwa Street past Tirimoana Jetty with out prior approval.

All roading statuses can be found on the council web site.

Kenepuru Rd was broken throughout flooding in July 2021 and August 2022, and the associated fee to restore it was estimated at $124 million.

In October, Marlborough finalised its enterprise case to place to Waka Kotahi to revive the street and the remainder of the Sounds’ transport community.