Making State Highway 2, Hutt Valley and Remutaka Hill, a safer highway

Travelling in the Hutt Valley and over the Remutaka Hill will be safer in the future as projects for State Highway 2 get into gear. Safer roads, intersections and speed limits are coming for the busy and important transport link.

The changes are part of Road to Zero, New Zealand’s plan to better protect everyone who uses our roads and streets. Road to Zero aims to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on our roads by 40 percent in the next ten years. 

Over the ten years from 2011 to 2020, there were over 2,300 crashes on SH2 between Ngāūranga and Featherston. 15 people were killed, and 149 were seriously injured.

Emma Speight, Director, Regional Relationships, says Waka Kotahi will build a range of new safety measures on State Highway 2, in stages.

“The next stage includes upgrades to the SH2 - Moonshine Hill Road and SH2 - Owen Street intersections, and new median barriers extending along more of River Road in Upper Hutt.”

Emma Speight says improvements for the Remutaka Hill are coming too - better safety barriers, signage, and markings. Targeted speed limit changes are also proposed for parts of the corridor and will be integrated with the safety upgrades. 

“We are investing in projects large and small to make State Highway 2 safer and easier to use. While the major Melling interchange is planned as part of RiverLink, 12 more intersections will receive safety improvements. Initial work will begin on the intersections of SH2 with Moonshine Hill Road, Owen Street, and Hebden Crescent,” Emma Speight says.

“Intersection upgrades and targeted speed limit changes at high-risk intersections will make crashes less likely and less severe. If a driver makes a mistake these changes mean people involved are more likely to survive without serious injury” Emma Speight says. 

SH2 Ngāūranga to Featherston safety improvements – key changes:(external link)

• Upgrading SH2 River Road from Whakatiki Street to Fergusson Drive with median and side barriers to improve safety.
• Closure of the SH2 Hebden Crescent (south) intersection near Owen Street and closure of right-hand-turn access at the SH2 Hebden Crescent intersection near Liverton Road.
• Upgrading the SH2 Moonshine Hill Road intersection with new traffic lights on the northbound lane to provide safe right-turning access to Riverstone Terraces and changes to encourage lower speeds through the intersection. 
• Upgrading the SH2 Owen Street intersection with new traffic lights to provide safe right-turning access to Belmont Domain
• Safety improvements along SH2 Remutaka Hill including side barriers, motorcycle underrun barriers, signage, and road marking improvements.

Further sites will continue to be investigated, design and built over the coming years as part of a staged approach to improving safety on the route.

Consultation is also open on the Interim State Highway Speed Management Plan, including proposed new speed limits on SH2 in the Hutt Valley. The proposed changes can be viewed and feedback provided via the Waka Kotahi website.

Interim State Highway Speed Management Plan(external link)

Te Upoko o Te Ika – Greater Wellington(external link)