Update: Road rehabilitation planned for State Highway 2 Carterton

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.

24 May

Wairarapa drivers and Carterton residents need to be ready for State Highway improvements beginning in the town next week. 

Wellington Transport Alliance work crews will begin road reconstruction at the northern end of the town next Monday night (3 June).

Around 500 metres of State Highway 2 through Carterton’s main thoroughfare will be repaired – similar to work recently undertaken on Chapel Street in Masterton.

The area being worked on is State Highway 2 High Street between Rhodes Street and Andersons Line.

The road condition through this part of Carterton is poor and needs comprehensive work. It will require extensive excavation before structural asphalt is installed and the final road surface is laid over the top. It will take longer to complete than a standard pavement resurfacing job.

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. 

NZTA/Waka Kotahi appreciates these significant works, which will be disruptive for residents, businesses, and road users. However, this section of State Highway 2 High Street must be repaired and rehabilitated. The investment being made now will result in a much improved and resilient road - one that will need fewer repairs in the future.

NZTA/Waka Kotahi and the Wellington Transport Alliance thank the public for their patience and understanding while this work is completed. Work crews will endeavour to complete this project as quickly and efficiently as possible.

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 worked on day and night during these phased works.
• Southbound vehicles will need to detour down Somerset Road, Carters Line and Park Road.
• Drivers must follow signposted detours.
• The detour will add extra time to travel times. Drivers are urged to plan ahead, particularly during peak traffic times.