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NZTA proposes State Highway 1 change through Picton for cars using Cook Strait ferries

The Bluebridge's Connemara and Interislander's Kaiarahi in Picton. Photo: RNZ / Samantha Gee The official route of State Highway 1 through Picton could change to match the route cars now take to enter and exit Cook Strait ferries. The Transport Agency was proposing making Kent Street a state highway and changing three key intersections to help traffic better flow. NZTA regional manager system design Richard Osborne said ever since the Interislander ferry terminal was relocated to Lagoon Road in 2023, all vehicles accessing the ferry terminals had been using Kent Street. "Traffic volumes have increased on Kent Street, whereas flows on State Highway 1 Nelson Square/Wairau Road have decreased," he said. "Kent Street has been acting as the de facto state highway. This is one of the key aspects the Picton -Road Network Improvements Project wants to address." The planned changes to the road network in Picton. Photo: Supplied / NZTA NZTA was also proposing making Auckland Street and Wairau Road local roads. Osborne said the designation and revocation would be subject to a Notice of Requirement under the Resource Management Act. Marlborough mayor Nadine Taylor said the changes were good news for residents and drivers in Picton. "What we want is the efficient movement of that ferry traffic into the Picton CBD but also for those vehicles and freight particularly that want to get on the road south they need to be able to get going. This is a real upgrade it'll help them exit the town and get on the road," she said. Taylor said NZTA would be consulting with the town through the rest of this year, with construction set for mid-next year after the busy summer period. "There are going to be some changes for the people of Picton and it's going to take them a little bit to get their head around some aspects of it, it's also going to change how they move around their town," she said. "I'm really keen to hear what people in Picton are going to think about this." NZTA said drop-in sessions had been planned for next week so the community could find out more about the improvements for the state highway and three intersections. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.