Marlborough District Council has confirmed Awatere Valley Road will remain closed through the Marlborough Anniversary long weekend after high winds delayed critical stabilisation work.
Marlborough Roads Transport Recovery Manager, Steve Murrin said the planned road opening date was always reliant on the slip face being stabilised.
“Due to the height of unstable material above the road, it needs to be removed by sluicing it from a helicopter,” Mr Murrin said
“Unfortunately, the high winds forecast for this week mean that Saturday is the earliest that conditions are settled enough for this work to start,” he said.
“We investigated a range of options to remove the unstable material safely and this is our best, and most efficient option.”
Following sluicing, crews will need to complete stabilisation works and specialist inspections, prior to the road opening.
Once reopened, the road will remain subject to daytime construction closures which will be needed on working days between 8am and 4.30pm.
The Council said the site will continue to be monitored and, if it is deemed unsafe, the road will be closed until it is safe to re-open it.
