Source: New Zealand Transport Agency
People travelling on State Highway 2 through Upper Hutt can expect to see activity at one of its more notorious intersections with safety improvement nightworks beginning in September.
Safety upgrades for the SH2/Moonshine Road intersection were confirmed by the Minister of Transport in July.
SH2 Riverstone Terraces safety upgrades(external link)
The upgrades will see new traffic lights installed at the intersection to reduce crash risk, and extra safety measures put in place to protect cyclists. The new measures are a response to community concerns about the intersection’s safety.
SH2 Moonshine Hill Road intersection
Roxanne Hilliard, Wellington Alliance Manager, says construction work is about to begin at the intersection.
“We have brought the schedule forward slightly from the earlier planned start date of October. This is because we want to make sure the intersection is complete and operating before the end of year holiday season.”
“Initially, contractors will do ground and pavement investigations and minor concrete works. Construction will begin around 21 September. Road users can expect to see heavy machinery near this intersection day and night, but the road will be fully open during the day and weekends,” Ms Hilliard says.
Safety benefits
The new design and introduction of traffic lights will help vehicles move through the intersection more safely and will help avoid confusion and crashes. A traffic light-controlled intersection will significantly reduce the risk of crashes from vehicles turning across this busy section of State Highway 2.
Ms Hilliard says while people may think traffic lights will slow people down, safer intersections help prevent the significant disruption crashes cause.
“Serious crashes can and do close roads and, when they require a full police investigation, these closures can last for hours, and even minor crashes can have major impacts on traffic flows.”
“Add into that the devastating impact serious crashes have on victims and their families, making intersections like this safer is the right thing to do,” Ms Hilliard says.
View larger intersection upgrade map [PDF, 2.2 MB]
Other works
The Moonshine Hill Road project coincides with planned resurfacing work on State Highway 2 between Moonshine Hill Road and Totara Park Road. It is scheduled to run from mid-September to late October. The two programmes will require weeknight road closures and local road detours.
Ms Hilliard says it means drivers and Riverstone Terrace residents can expect some disruption and delays when accessing State Highway 2 while both projects are completed.
View larger detour map [PDF, 79 KB]
Riverstone Terraces access
While Riverstone Terraces will be within the road closure area, residents will retain access to their properties.
This will only be available via the northbound lanes on State Highway 2 – residents will need to enter this section of the highway from Silverstream and travel north towards Moonshine Hill Road.
Drivers will also have to stop at a waiting area for a short period before being allowed through. This is to ensure contractors are aware of traffic movements and can allow drivers to safely move through the works area.
Speed review consultation
The intersection changes are just part of the planned safety improvements for this section of State Highway 2. Consultation continues on a proposal to reduce the speed limit from 100 km/h to 80 km/h. This is due to close on Friday, 12 September.
Further announcements will be made after submissions have been considered and analysed, and a decision made by the Director of Land Transport.
The outcome of the consultation will inform what speed signs are installed at the State Highway 2/Moonshine Hill Road intersection once it is finished.
View larger speed limit review map [PDF, 444 KB]
More information
SH2 Hutt Valley intersection safety improvements – Moonshine Hill Road
Moonshine Hill Road to north of Whakatiki Street – Speed Review
