Update: Road rehabilitation planned for State Highway 2 Carterton

State Highway 2 is being reopened through Carterton today after 1 pm ahead of the Matariki Holiday weekend.

UPDATE 25 June:

Wet weather means the final day of work, which would have seen the final road surface laid, can’t be completed this week.

Instead, the final day of works will be scheduled once the weather improves. We will provide a further update when a date is confirmed.

In the interim, State Highway 2/High Street will be open to all traffic in both directions.

Because the road surface in the southbound lane is unfinished, the works site will have a temporary speed limit of 30 km/h.

Previously, vehicles couldn’t drive this section of road because it had been excavated to a depth of approximately 360 mm. Now that the road has been mostly built up, it is driveable.

To ensure the road and vehicles are not damaged, drivers must obey the 30 km/h speed limit.

NZTA/Waka Kotahi and the Wellington Transport Alliance deeply appreciate the understanding and patience of all drivers, residents, and businesses in Carterton and surrounding areas as we near the completion of this essential state highway maintenance project.

UPDATE 17 June:

The current rain and wet conditions mean road rehabilitation work for State Highway 2, High Street, can’t proceed until the weather improves later this week.

Because deep lift work has already begun, the southbound closure must remain in place. The depth of the excavation means vehicles can’t drive through the southbound works area, and the closure is necessary to prevent damage to the road and vehicles.

The project remains on track to be completed within the expected five weeks unless there is more bad weather.

NZTA/Waka Kotahi and the Wellington Transport Alliance appreciate the ongoing patience and cooperation from residents, businesses, and road users as these works continue.

UPDATE 7 June:

State Highway 2/High Street in Carterton will be open to traffic in both directions this weekend  as work rehabilitating the road continues.

While the highway will be open in both directions, a 30 km/h temporary speed limit will be in place between Rhodes and Kent Streets. This is because the area under repair is still being excavated and the road surface is uneven.

Drivers must obey the speed limit to ensure their vehicles and the road are not damaged.

Road crews will be working on the road from Kent St to Andersons Line from this Sunday night to do further deep lift work – weather permitting. Once completed the northbound lane will be levelled and resurfaced.

Roadworks schedule:

• Construction will be underway Sunday nights through until Friday afternoon.
• No works will be carried out Friday night until Sunday evening, however closures will remain in place 24/7 for approximately 5 weeks.
• One side of the road will be worked on at a time. 

The approximate order of works is:

• Northbound side of the road – we’ll start between Rhodes Street to Kent Street, followed by Kent Street to south of Anderson’s Line. This should take approximately 2-3 weeks, weather permitting.
• Southbound side of the road – we’ll start between south of Anderson’s Line to Kent Street, followed by Kent Street to Rhodes Street. This should take approximately 2-3 weeks, weather permitting.

29 May:

The Wellington Transport Alliance is planning a road reconstruction for early June.

Roxanne Hillard, Wellington Alliance Manager, says around 500 metres of State Highway 2 through Carterton’s main thoroughfare will be repaired.

“The work we are planning is like what we’re currently doing on Chapel Street in Masterton. The road condition through this part of Carterton is poor and needs comprehensive work.” 

“Work crews will need to excavate the road to a depth of around 360 mm and put down a layer of structural asphalt, and then apply a final asphalt road surface over the top,” Ms Hilliard says. 

She says the nature of the work means it will take longer to complete than a standard pavement resurfacing job.

“However, this is the best long-term solution. It will result in a far more durable road needing fewer repairs. Investing in substantive rehabilitation now saves time and money down the track.”

The area to be worked on will be State Highway 2 High Street between Rhodes Street and Andersons Line. 

Ms Hilliard says road closures, speed restrictions, night and day works, parking restrictions, and local road detours will all be part of the project.

“This includes access restrictions for residents and businesses between Rhodes Street and Andersons Line. The nature of the work being done means it will be unsafe for vehicles to drive through the works area.”

Vehicle access to affected properties will be available in emergencies, and contractors will ensure pedestrian access and footpaths remain open. However, residents and businesses will have to park their vehicles on side streets while access is unavailable. 

Ms Hilliard says the community will be informed of further details on the timing of this project as they are confirmed. 

“These are significant works, and we appreciate they will be disruptive. Our work crews will work hard to complete them as quickly and efficiently as possible.” 

“I want to thank the public, especially the residents and businesses that are most affected as we complete this critical upgrade and investment in State Highway 2 through Carterton,” Ms Hilliard says.

Works location, schedule and detour routes

• From Monday, 3 June. Estimated duration up to five weeks. 24/7 works programme
• Work will be done in two sections:
  • SH2 High Street, between Rhodes and Kent Streets
    • Approximately two to three weeks
  • SH2 High Street, between Kent Street and Andersons Line
    • Approximately two to three weeks
• One side of High Street will be closed day and night during these phased works, day and night.
• Southbound vehicles will need to detour down Somerset Road, Carters Line and Park Road.
• Drivers must follow signposted detours.
• The detour will add around eight minutes to travel times.

SH2 Carterton works location [PDF, 44 KB]

Carterton southbound detour route [PDF, 722 KB]