Marlborough Sounds residents isolated by July's storm will have road access restored before Christmas.
Progress being made at "The Rock" on Kenepuru Road as road repairs continue following the July storm. Photo: Supplied / Marlborough Roads
Marlborough Roads confirmed there will be controlled access along the full length of the Kenepuru Road and its side roads by the end of November.
The Awatere Valley Road to Molesworth Station will also be open for restricted public access between 22 December and 16 January.
Mayor John Leggett said work to assess and repair the roads had been complex and required geotechnical expertise without compromising the safety of road users, residents, and road crews.
"We know it has been extremely hard for our Sounds' and Awatere Valley communities and this is really good news," Leggett said.
"I want to thank them for the resilience and patience they have shown while the roading recovery team have put in the hard yards to make this happen."
The storm in July caused major flooding and widespread damage to homes across the region and the Marlborough Roads Recovery Team had been working since then to restore access.
A permit system would be used for the full length of Kenepuru Road with manned entry gates and there would be some constraints on vehicles length and class.
Visitor vehicle access will not be allowed, but residents will be able to pick up visitors at checkpoints.
Leggett said work would stop over the Christmas period to allow the roading crews to have a break.
"The roading crews have earned that rest. The men and women who are working hard on our Sounds' roads to connect our residents deserve a special thanks for their efforts - they are doing a great job."
The council's barge and water taxi service subsidies will continue until the road restrictions are removed.
The services are in high demand and people are being encouraged to book early to avoid disappointment during the summer holiday season.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency spokesperson Andrew James said the team had engaged with residents and road users to understand their needs, and developed a programme that enables safe access, where possible.
"Providing safe access for residents is a priority for us. We want to make sure that the people who really need access can get it safely, while we keep on rebuilding the severely damaged roads."
Full access on Kenepuru Rd would be reviewed in the first quarter of 2022, James said.
"As everyone knows, the July storm did a significant amount of damage to some roads, and we still have a lot of earth to shift, but we are making progress and we thank the affected communities and wider Marlborough people for their ongoing support and patience."
More details about the access programme can be found on the Marlborough District Council website.
Anyone who needs support as a result of the July storm should contact the Marlborough District Council at recovery@marlborough.govt.nz