Once a popular terminal for tourists, the Waitohi Ferry Redevelopment Project will reconnect travellers to the Marlborough region.
The Waitohi Ferry Redevelopment Project has officially moved from planning to physical works in Picton, marking the beginning of a major transformation on the waterfront and the first visible step toward preparing for the next generation of Interislander vessels.
This week, Port Marlborough will bring early works contractor HEB Construction on site to begin site establishment and prepare for the removal of the existing Vehicle Access Bridge and the Linkspan at Berth 2. This removal signals the end of an era for infrastructure that has served Cook Strait travellers for decades and the start of a new chapter for one of New Zealand’s most important transport links. Port Marlborough Chief Executive Rhys Welbourn says the shift from planning to physical work is a significant step for the community and the programme.
“The government’s recent announcement means that this week, we move from concept planning to action. With site set-up in the coming days, we will be ready to commence deconstruction activity in early 2026, preparing for the new wharf, new linkspan, and the wider infrastructure to support the next generation of rail-enabled ferries. It is positive to see work progressing from planning to action,” said Welbourn.
Port Marlborough has worked closely with Ferry Holdings, KiwiRail, Port customers and technical partners to ensure enabling works are carefully staged within Port Marlborough’s operating environment.
Site works will be noticeable in the new year, when HEB will install cranes on-site to carefully deconstruct and bring the 12-metre concrete vehicle access bridge spans to the ground. The spans will then be cut into smaller pieces and loaded onto trucks and taken offsite, with around 90 percent of the removed material diverted from landfill and recycled into reusable aggregates, in line with Port Marlborough’s sustainability goals.
“Our priority is to maintain safe and reliable port operations throughout the project. Early works have been planned to minimise impacts on the environment, and customers, and to ensure continuity across our operations. We will continue collaborating with partners to deliver this nationally significant project to support New Zealand’s SH1 and rail connection and resilient and efficient ferry services for the long term.”
More news here.
