20 September 2024
Weather permitting, work on this project will be completed this weekend.
Rockfall protection near the summit of Remutaka Hill began in June. Abseilers began works by clearing vegetation and loose rock from the hill face.
Once that work was completed, contractors drilled and installed rock anchors and mesh on the hill, which is now complete.
The improvements help cut the risk of slips on the road, which would cause significant disruptions to drivers. It also makes the road safer for traffic by reducing the danger of falling rocks.
The work has been managed under a shoulder closure, meaning traffic has been able to flow freely through the project site.
Rockfall remediation site, SH2 Remutaka Hill.
There will be stop/go traffic management in place on Sunday, 22 September, between 9 pm and 4 am, for the removal of temporary barriers from the work site.
This will be one of three stop/go sites operating on the route on Sunday night.
One is in place 24/7 at an underslip site and another temporary stop/go is planned at an overslip site on Sunday night to allow the installation of safety barriers.
https://www.nzta.govt.nz/media-releases/stopgo-on-state-highway-2-remutaka-hill-today-for-urgent-drainage-work
Drivers can expect delays travelling over the Remutaka Hill while this work is underway. Road users must allow extra time for their journeys.
21 June 2024
A date has been confirmed for the heli-lift of material to the project site.
Weather permitting, this will happen this coming Monday (24 June) at midday.
Road users can expect three separate five-minute traffic stops, 20-minutes apart, until one pm while this is completed.
Drivers can expect delays and should factor this into their travel plans
Updates on the highway’s status can be found on the NZTA/Waka Kotahi website.
Highway Conditions - Wellington(external link)
4 June 2024
Drivers heading over State Highway 2 Remutaka Hill next month can expect to see contractors working on rockfall protection on the route.
From Monday, 10 June, crews will be carrying out rock scaling work before rock bolts and rockfall mesh are installed at a site near the summit on the Featherston side of the hill.
SH2 Remutaka Hill rockfall work site.
The project is expected to take around 12 weeks to complete, weather permitting, and is essential for reducing rockfall risk at a known problem site. Taking preventive measures now helps reduce the risk of a potential slip and a major disruption to the route.
Because the work requires contractors to work on the hill face above the road, it has to be done during the day for safety reasons. The work cannot be done during planned night closures.
Most of the project can be done with just a shoulder closure. It means the road will be open to traffic in both directions.
However, three stop/go closures will be needed to install and remove safety barriers, and to deliver equipment to the work site. These are not expected to create significant disruptions or delays for traffic.
Drivers are asked to obey all traffic management in place at the project site, and to follow all instructions from work crews. Keeping the public and work crews is the priority.
NZTA/Waka Kotahi and the Wellington Transport Alliance thank drivers for their patience and cooperation while this critical state highway maintenance work is completed.
