supplied/Nelson Mail
Some Murchison locals are concerned the part of SH 6 collapsing could take out both lanes if it’s not repaired but Waka Kotahi assure residents work will begin on it in spring.
A part of State Highway 6 in disrepair has some residents worried if it’s not fixed soon, it could leave the tiny town cut off from tourists and services.
State Highway 6, six kilometres south of Murchison township, is down to one lane while the northbound lane has large cracks in it, metres away from where the road drops off into the Buller River below.
Murchison resident, Christine Pointon said if the road became completely washed out at Dellow’s Bluff it would “severely impact on the Murchison locals who live south of there”.
Residents who lived south of the damaged road from Murchison would “not be able to get to supplies and mail as a lot of them are reliant on postbox services as we do not have rural mail or supply deliveries”.
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Pointon, who is required to travel through the affected area to get to the township, said that part of the state highway was taken back to one lane “shortly after the July 2021 flooding” and remained one lane until the end of the year when repair work was carried out.
But she said a couple of months later, damage to the road returned and by February, that area of the main arterial route between Christchurch and Nelson was once again down to one lane.
If the road was severely affected and required closure, trips between the West Coast and Golden Bay would require a detour through Christchurch and Blenhiem.
Another concerned Murchison resident, Sandy Beaumont said people weren’t “looking at the big picture”.
“If that road goes fully, there’s no alternative route.”
She said all businesses in Murchison would be affected, not only as tourists wouldn’t be driving through, but businesses from the West Coast that relied on the town for services including banking, wouldn’t have easy access.
“It affects not just a few people, that’s the gateway to the West Coast, Christchurch and Hanmer.”
Images taken over time show the damage is gradually getting worse, she said.
“It’s already dropped more in the last week.”
“It’s quite a serious situation.”
Repairs to New Zealand state highways are required to be undertaken by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency.
Waka Kotahi top of the south system manager Andrew James said the slip at Dellows Bluff between the SH63 and SH65 intersections re-activated following the storm and heavy rainfall in February 2022.
“Geotechnical investigations and designs have been continuing and are currently being finalised for the reinstatement of this section of highway.”
He said work was expected to begin in spring 2022 and be completed later in 2022, early 2023.
James was “very aware of the importance of this section of SH6”.
“We realise that there would be lengthy diversions should this section of highway need to close.
“Thanks to all local residents and daily road users for taking care around this one-lane section until it can be returned to two lanes.”
