Night closures next week for State Highway 2 Remutaka Hill

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

Night closures, 6-10 April: One week of night closures begin this Sunday on State Highway 2 Remutaka Hill.

The route is set to be closed to traffic for the nights of Sunday 6 April to Thursday 10 April, from 9 pm to 4 am.

Road crews will be clearing slip and rockfall debris, replacing signs, and completing paving work and safety barrier repairs.

The work is part of regularly scheduled maintenance on the route and is designed to ensure the highway remains safe and reliable for drivers.

Escorted crossings are available for people who need to travel over the Remutaka Hill at night. They can be made on the NZTA/Waka Kotahi website.

Remutaka Hill closure escort booking form(external link)

Drivers are strongly encouraged to plan ahead and make a booking if they need to travel the route at night. The only available detour is a much longer trip via the Paihiatua Track or Saddle Road.

These crossings are available for light vehicles only. The nature of the work and the limited space on the road mean heavy vehicles cannot be accommodated.

Night works and full closures are safer for work crews, save on traffic management costs, and also allow the work to be completed faster.

Traffic volumes on the route are significantly lower at night, meaning the work’s impact on drivers is minimised as much as possible.

Upcoming closure schedule

Dates have also been confirmed for planned closures for the second half of this year.

There will be two single-night closures: one on Sunday 10 August, and the other on Sunday 7 September.

There will also be two weeklong closures. The first will be the nights of 12 to 16 October. The second will be the nights of 16 to 20 November.

These dates have been deliberately chosen to avoid clashing with major events in Wellington and the Wairarapa. Regular users of the route are urged to plan ahead for these closures.

Important information for Remutaka Hill closures

• Escorted crossings are available during closure nights but must be booked in advance. We always communicate well before planned closures and provide contact details so bookings can be made.
• Bookings can be made online on the Waka Kotahi website.
• Bookings are essential – drivers who turn up without one risk being turned away. If you have a genuine emergency on the night, the hill manager will decide how best to help you.
• The escorted crossings are for light vehicles only. To keep our contractors safe, heavy vehicles cannot be accommodated.
• Full access is always available for emergency services.

More information about planned maintenance closures for Remutaka Hill can be found on our website:

State Highway 2 Remutaka Hill planned night closures – January – December 2025

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