State Highway 6 between Rai Valley and Blenheim reopened this morning and the last closed section on the road will reopen tomorrow.
File photo. Photo: Supplied / NZTA
Waka Kotahi Top of the South system manager Andrew James said it had taken a massive effort to get the road reopened for motorists after flood damage forced it shut.
The section over the Whangamoa Hill between Hira and the Rai Valley township was the worst damaged section of the highway.
"Over the last five days, we've had over 70 people working in the section each day," James said.
"The crews have removed around 12 thousand tonnes of spoil and debris. Another 12,000 tonnes of hard fill have been brought in, and 300 tonnes of asphalt has been laid. Six 31 tonne dump trucks and 10 diggers have been flat out getting the road in a safe condition for vehicles to use it."
The road was not in the same state it was before the floods with much more work needed to bring the road back up to standard, he said.
"What we have in place now are temporary measures to allow the road to reopen. Much more work will be needed to bring the road back up to its previous condition."
Multiple sections of the road are under stop-go signs to allow roadworks to continue between Hira and Renwick.
James said motorists should expect their journeys to take significantly longer than usual.
The 123km journey between Nelson and Blenheim could take over two hours.
James said there would be further closures of State Highway 6 once State Highway 63 reopened.
There was an alternate route between Nelson and Blenheim through St Arnaud, which would allow significant repairs to be carried out as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Road users are being urged to keep travel on State Highway 6 for essential needs to minimise wait times, to drive carefully, and be aware more bad weather could force it to be closed at short notice.
