Planned night closures for State Highway 2 Remutaka Hill

11 March update: With one more week of night closures planned for State Highway 2 Remutaka Hill, drivers wanting to join escorted crossings are asked to make their bookings as quickly as possible.

Road crews are carrying out maintenance and installing new safety improvements Sunday to Thursday night this week (10 to 15 March) and Sunday to Thursday night next week (17-22 March).

State Highway 2 Remutaka Hill will be closed between 9 pm and 4 am on these dates.

It is essential people travelling between Wellington and Wairarapa factor this into their travel plans as the only available detours are via Saddle Road and the Paihiatua Track, which have significantly longer travel times.

Access to the route is strictly limited. However, escorted crossings for light vehicles can be reserved for people booked in advance.

Bookings for crossings next week must be done by 4 pm this Friday (15 March). Bookings can be made on our website:

• Remutaka Hill Closure Escort Booking Form(external link)

5 March

Two weeks of night closures are planned. 10–15 March and 17–22 March. The route will be closed between 9pm and 4am, Sunday to Thursday nights.

Work crews will begin installing new side barriers and motorcycle under-barriers between the twin bridges on the Featherston side of the hill and Marchant Road, Kaitoke. Road signs and markings on Remutaka Hill will also be improved and upgraded.

Road crews will also be doing extensive maintenance work during the closures. This includes road resurfacing, pothole repairs, vegetation control, barrier repairs, clearing rockfalls and slips, as well as renewing line markings.

Access to the route will be strictly limited. However, escorted crossings can be reserved for people who have booked in advance.

This must be done by 4 pm the Friday before closures begin on Sunday, 10 March, and Sunday, 17 March. Bookings can be made on our website:

• Remutaka Hill Closure Escort Booking Form(external link)

Full closures allow road crews to work more efficiently and complete repairs faster. It is also much safer as some maintenance work requires large machinery that uses most of the road area.

New Zealand Transport Agency/Waka Kotahi understands these closures do cause travel delays. However, these regular maintenance closures are essential for keeping a vital state highway link open.

They also significantly reduce the risk of bigger failures, which could create more disruption for road users. We appreciate your patience and understanding while our contractors carry out their work.

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.

State Highway 2, Remutaka Hill, planned night closures. January - June 2024

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

• SH2 Remutaka Hill road night closures