The NZ Transport Agency is advising motorists about Hutt Valley highway activity on SH2 during October.
New traffic lights on the State Highway 2 and Whakatiki Street intersection on the River Road in Upper Hutt are set to start operating in the first week of October.
The Transport Agency's Transport System Manager for Wellington Mark Owen says the traffic lights have been installed to improve safety at this high risk intersection.
“We’re aiming to get the lights switched on late on Sunday October 1. Final technical testing and site works are weather dependent so the start of operation may happen during the week. Electronic sign boards will be used to advise motorists of the switch-on date.”
Road users wanting to turn right into or out of Whakatiki Street will have dedicated traffic lights, rather than having to wait for a gap in traffic, which will make right turns much safer.
An 80km/h speed limit put in place on the southbound lane approaching the intersection will remain to improve safety, by ensuring the speed of vehicles approaching this intersection is reduced.
Southbound traffic on SH2 will need to stop when required at the new traffic lights.
Road users heading north on SH2 won’t be affected as the traffic lights only cover the southbound lane. CCTV has been installed at the intersection to allow the Transport Agency’s Transport Operations Centre to monitor traffic flows and adjust signal phasing accordingly to reduce delays.
“It may take people a few days to get used to having traffic lights on this section of SH2, but we are confident the improved safety will be beneficial for all road users.”
The NZ Transport Agency is also advising the Haywards SH 2/58 interchange will be completed by the end of October.
Poor winter weather caused some minor project delays, but priority was given to road works which ensured the interchange was open to vehicles.
The Transport Agency's Acting Portfolio Manager Glen Prince says that the remaining work on the north bound on-ramp merge lane, SH58 uphill road pavement construction, Hebden Crescent and SH2 resurfacing has now commenced, with some speed restrictions in place while the work is completed.
“Until the project is complete the temporary speed limits on SH2 and SH58 will remain in place. We thank drivers for their patience while this project is completed and remind them to slow down to allow for safe merging with State Highway 58 traffic.”
Meanwhile motorists are also advised new road surface work on the southbound on ramps and off ramps of the interchange, and both northbound and southbound lanes on SH2, will start in early October, and will go on for most of the month. This work will be carried out at night from approximately 7pm to 5.30am. Some of the work on the interchange ramps will require traffic detours on two nights. We will be using electronic messaging and advertising to tell drivers more about this closer to the time.
South of the Haywards Interchange, the Transport Agency will be replacing old electrical cables that power the traffic lights at the intersection of State Highway 2 and Belmont’s Grounsell Crescent.
Crews are working at night from Sunday to Thursdays between 8pm and 5:30am and the road surface and traffic lights will be reinstated after each shift. The project is expected to be complete by mid-October.
Resurfacing and traffic signal cabling works are weather dependent.
“We appreciate that if you are travelling on SH2 in October, particularly at night, you will go through multiple roadwork sites,” says Mr Owen. “Given the inclement weather we have had for some months we have to make the most of every dry weather opportunity to get out there and get this work done. We want to thank residents and road users for their patience while we do this critical work on SH2.”
Keep up to date with the latest travel information on NZ Transport Agency’s Traffic Map(external link).
