Port Underwood road re-opens

Marlborough Roads’ response works following the June and July weather events turned a corner last week as Port Underwood Road re-opened.

Port Underwood Road between Oyster Bay and Rārangi and Tumbledown Bay Road are now open for all vehicles.

Marlborough Roads Transport Recovery Manager Steve Murrin says this is a huge step forward for residents of the area. 

“Over 200 new faults were identified in the Port Underwood area following these recent events,” says Steve. “Around three-quarters of the damage has been addressed.”

Last week crews were working near Robin Hood Bay to repair scouring on the road. New gravel has also been spread throughout the unsealed section of both Port Underwood and Tumbledown Bay roads.

Now Port Underwood area will move to the recovery phase, in which approximately 50 sites will require a permanent solution to reinstate the road.  “Of these sites, 19 will require assessment for either a retaining structure or road retreat and another eight where culvert replacement may be required,” says Steve.

“Our initial priority will be the section from Waikawa to Oyster Bay, along with focusing on large dropouts,” he says.

One of the biggest sites is a large under slip near Oyster Bay.

“We know this is a priority site which will require a complex solution, so we’ve already started design for this site,” says Steve.

On the Rārangi end of the road there are multiple culverts that will need to be repaired or replaced and another large dropout just past Whites Bay.