Road maintenance continues on Weld Pass

Essential maintenance on the Weld Pass stretch of Marlborough’s State Highway 1 will start back up early next month.

The highway will be closed to all traffic for three nights as a result, between 8pm and 6am, from October 2-4.

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency system manager for the top of the south Rob Service said contractors would be using the time to lay asphalt across the full width of the road, in the middle section of Weld Pass.

They would also be replacing a sump cover, signs and edge marker posts, as well as inspecting guard rails and performing general maintenance.

“The nature of the work, the road’s narrowness, and the size of the machinery involved means the road has to be closed. It is the best way to finish the work quickly and efficiently,” Service said.

“We appreciate that drivers have strong feelings about roadworks delaying their journeys. It is why we do these closures at night, when traffic volumes are lighter, to reduce disruptions as much as we can.”

The regular maintenance work was crucial, and would reduce overall delays and disruptions for drivers, he said.

“There’s an old saying ‘a stitch in time saves nine’. Highway maintenance is exactly the same. Regular upkeep of Weld Pass helps prevent bigger problems down the track.”

There will be a midnight opening each night to allow queued traffic through, one lane at a time. However ,the closure would create delays for people travelling between Blenheim and Christchurch.

Road users were asked to follow the instructions of contractors and obey all temporary speed limits and traffic controls. There would also be other works

being carried out on SH1 in Marlborough during that period, so it was important drivers planned their travel accordingly, Service said.

“This is crucial for drivers with ferry connections as the inland route detour is a significantly longer journey.”

The only other route between Christchurch and Marlborough is via St Arnaud,

Murchison and Lewis Pass, which can add nearly two hours to the journey.

Further maintenance work is planned for Weld Pass in January and February, and then again in April and May. More information about the timing and nature of the work will be provided beforework starts.

Three other night works scheduled for

Marlborough on SH1 next month will be controlled by stop-go stations.

They will be at the SH1 intersection with Duncan St in Seddon on the night of October 1, at the highway’s intersection with Sheffield St in Riverlands on October 4 and 5, and between McDonald’s and Burger King in central Blenheim from October 15 to 18.

ANTHONY PHELPS/STUFF Weld Pass, on State Highway 1 in Marlborough, is closing overnight for repairs in early October.