Source: New Zealand Transport Agency
Planned closures this month:
Drivers need to be ready for ten nights of night closures on State Highway 2 Remutaka Hill, beginning 19 May.
Mark Owen, Regional Manager Lower North Island / Top of the South, says two weeks of night closures are planned – 19 to 24 May and 26 to 31 May.
“State Highway 2 Remutaka will be closed Sunday to Thursday nights during these weeks, between 9 pm and 4 am.”
“Road crews will continue working on safety improvements on the hill – this will see more repairs and replacements of safety barriers. They will also be clearing vegetation, and carry out other routine maintenance tasks,” Mr Owen says.
He says full closures are the most effective way to complete the work.
“Road crews can do more work faster and safely than they would if the work was done under stop/go. Night closures also cause less overall disruption as traffic volumes on the route are much lower than during the day.”
State Highway 2, Remutaka Hill, planned night closures. January – June 2024:
| Nights Closed | Start 9 pm | Finish 4 am |
|---|---|---|
|
10 |
19 May 26 May |
24 May 31 May |
|
5 |
16 June |
21 June |
Planned closures, July to December 2024:
Meanwhile, the planned closure schedule for the second half of this year has also been confirmed.
Mark Owen says these are important dates that regular users of the route need to have in their calendars and planners.
State Highway 2, Remutaka Hill, planned night closures. July – December 2024:
| Nights Closed | Start 9 pm | Finish 4 am |
|---|---|---|
|
1 |
11 August |
12 August |
|
5 |
1 September |
6 September |
|
1 |
13 October |
14 October |
|
5 |
3 November |
8 November |
“If you use the Remutaka Hill regularly, it’s essential you make a note of these dates and ensure they are in your diary. We don’t want anyone to be caught out by these closures, which is why we try to give as much advance notice as possible.”
Mr Owen says there are fewer planned closures for the second half of the year.
“We planned 31 for the first half of the year. There will be 12 between July and December. This means the level of disruption will be much less.”
“We appreciate full closures are inconvenient, but they have much less impact than doing the work under stop/go during the day when more vehicles use the route. Closing the road also lets our road crews complete their work much faster,” Mr Owen says.
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.
Remutaka Hill Closure Escort Booking Form(external link) - 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 can’t 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:
