Motorists urged to plan ahead for Remutaka Hill night closures

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is advising that State Highway 2 (SH2) over the Remutaka Hill will be closed for five nights, 9pm to 4am each night, from Sunday night 27 February 2022 to Friday morning 4 March 2022 to allow crews to safely complete essential work.

The five-night road closures are needed to enable road crews to safely undertake essential maintenance and slip prevention works to ensure the ongoing safety of everyone using this vital link between Wellington and Wairarapa.

The Remutaka Hill road is steep, narrow and winding which makes it a challenging environment to work in. Closing the road to traffic for maintenance work to be undertaken at night increases safety for road workers and motorists, significantly reduces the number of stop/go works at other times, and enables better quality maintenance work, for better long term results.

An escorted crossing service will be available for light vehicles, to ensure access for shift workers and those who must cross the Remutaka Hill for essential journeys during these night closures.

Due to the extent of the work there will be only three escorted crossings available per night, and motorists are advised to plan ahead. Trucks will not be able to cross during these closures as extensive resurfacing works are taking place.  

Times for the three escorted crossings per night are as follows:

• 11.30pm – departing Featherston to Upper Hutt
• 12.30am – departing Upper Hutt to Featherston
• 1.30am – departing Featherston to Upper Hutt

Bookings for the escorted crossings are essential as numbers are limited, and should be arranged by Friday 25 February at customer@capitaljourneys.co.nz.

Access will remain available for emergency services as needed throughout the work closures.

Northbound travellers deciding to detour via the Pahiatua Track should be aware that SH57 Kimberley Road at Levin is closed in stages to northbound traffic for safety work. Those opting for this route will need to follow the detour on SH1 before crossing over to SH57. This detour does not affect people travelling south, as the southbound lane on SH57 will remain open.

The work will take place under the Covid-19 traffic light health and safety protocols to keep workers and road users safe.

While the dates below are fixed, bad weather or Covid-19 restrictions may cause works to be cancelled, possibly at short notice.

Planned closures up to June 2022 are listed below:

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