End of year planned maintenance closure dates for State Highway 2 Remutaka Hill

Drivers need to be ready for five nights of night closures on State Highway 2 Remutaka Hill, beginning 1 September.

Roxanne Hilliard, Wellington Alliance Manager says one weeks of night closure is planned – 1 to 5 September.

“State Highway 2 Remutaka will be closed Sunday to Thursday nights during these weeks, between 9pm and 4am.”

“Road crews will be replacing road signs, cleaning up graffiti, removing litter, clearing slips, rockfalls, and drains, and fixing safety barriers. Resurfacing work is planned for November when the weather will be warmer and drier,”  Ms Hilliard says.

She 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 cause less overall disruption as traffic volumes on the route are lower compared to during the day.”

“They’re cost effective too. Full closures use simpler traffic management which costs less to implement. Saving money on traffic management allows us to spend more on road maintenance,” Ms Hilliard says

Planned closures, September to December 2024

Meanwhile, the planned closure schedule for the rest of the year has been confirmed.

Ms Hilliard says these are important dates, especially  for those that travel over the Remutaka Hill frequently. 

State Highway 2, Remutaka Hill, planned night closures  September – December 2024

“Please, make a note of these dates and ensure they are in you planners and calendars. We don’t want anyone to be caught out by these closures, which is why we try to give as much advance notice about them as possible.”

Ms Hilliard appreciates full closures are inconvenient for drivers, which is why escorted  trips are available on closure nights.

“It’s essential people book these in advance. Plan ahead and make sure you’re on the list if you need to travel over the hill. Having a booked slot means you will be able to complete your journey.”

“That can’t be guaranteed if you turn up without one,” Ms Hilliard says.

File image: SH2 Remutaka Hill, looking west from the summit.

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:

• SH2 Remutaka Hill road night closures
• Wellington Transport Alliance