REMINDER: State Highway 2, Remutaka Hill, night closures start this weekend

Five nights of night-time maintenance closures get underway on State Highway 2, Remutaka Hill, this Sunday, and regular users of the route must be prepared for its impact on their travel plans.

The Wellington Transport Alliance is doing planned maintenance nightly between 9 pm and 4 am starting Sunday, 5 November and finishing Friday morning, 10 November. The highway will be closed to traffic during these times.

These are the last planned closures for 2023. Dates for 2024 will be released soon.

Planned work includes extensive asphalt resurfacing each night, weather permitting. It requires large machinery which takes up much of the road. This means there will only be two escorted crossings each night.

• 10.30 pm Featherston to Hutt
• 11.30 pm Hutt to Featherston

People wanting to cross the hill during the closure should book in advance for a place on the escorted crossings.

For Sunday night, please book by 4 pm Friday, 3 November. For Monday to Thursday nights, please book by 4 pm each day for that night.

Bookings for escorted crossings can be made online:

• Remutaka Hill Closure Escort Booking Form(external link)

Waka Kotahi understands these closures do cause travel delays. However, these regular maintenance closures are essential for keeping this vital state highway link open.

Full closures also help reduce the overall disruption for road users. They allow road crews to work more efficiently and complete repairs faster. Doing the work during the day under stop/go traffic controls would create major travel delays. Closing the highway is also much safer as some maintenance tasks require large machinery that uses most of the road area.

Waka Kotahi wants to thank drivers for their patience and cooperation while the Wellington Transport Alliance completes this 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 Closure Dates. July-December 2023

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

• SH2 Remutaka Hill road night closures
• Wellington Transport Alliance

State Highway 2 Remutaka Hill slump site update:
Work started this week to build a retaining wall to stabilise the bank below the slump. It is due to be complete around 15 December. The barrier will be reinstalled, and the road resurfaced before Christmas. Stop/go traffic control will continue during the work.