The NZ Transport Agency contractors worked through the night to clear slips from multiple sites throughout the Wellington region following heavy rain on Tuesday 15 November.
While most roads have been reopened, the Transport Agency is still advising motorists that they should factor in longer travel times in and around Wellington and Kapiti as some routes are reduced to one lane while further assessments and clearing work takes place.
State Highway 1 Pukerua Bay to Plimmerton is currently down to one lane in both directions due to a slip. Because of the size of the slip, this temporary traffic management is likely to be in place until at least Friday, so people should plan for delays, particularly during peak times. There is also a major slip on Airlie Road, and it is recommended that motorists do not use Airlie Road as an alternative route.
State Highway 1, northern end of Coast Road. From 10am this morning a small section of this route will be operating under a single lane stop/go closure, through to at least 4pm this afternoon. Motorists should expect significant delays. This closure is required for emergency slip clearing of the rail and state highway network.
State Highway 58 from State Highway 2 to Paremata is open to Hutt-bound motorists. For Porirua-bound motorists, the road is open to Postgate Drive where a diversion is in place to the Whitford Brown traffic lights. The section between Postgate Drive and Paremata roundabout westbound is closed due to slips. At Judgeford golf course a stop/go closure is in place and people should expect delays. State Highway 58 is currently not suitable for heavy vehicles and until further notice they should use the State Highway 2/1 route.
State Highway 2 motorway is still down to one lane, just north of the Ngauranga interchange. This due to the temporary diversion of the Hutt on-ramp and may lead to delays during peak times. An alternative option for those travelling south on State Highway 1 and wanting to access State Highway 2, is to consider continuing south on State Highway 1 into Wellington, take the Hawkestone off ramp and access State Highway 1 northbound to then rejoin State Highway 2 just north of Ngauranga.
Local roads, Grays Road and Paekakariki Hill Road remain closed.
“We are expecting rain through to Friday. While it won’t be as heavy or intense as Tuesday, there is still ongoing risks of further slips which may require emergency work to clear. Some parts of the network have suffered significant damage and will require further assessment to identify permanent repairs, and motorists may continue to experience delays to the journeys,” Mark Owen, Regional Performance Manager, NZ Transport Agency says.
“We want to thank motorists for their ongoing patience and understanding during this significant weather event which had a major impact on our roads,” Mr Owen says. “We continue to advise people to check for updates on our website and via our social media so that they can make informed decisions about their journeys.”
People can call 0800 44 44 49 for updates and the Transport Agency’s website(external link) and social media accounts will be also updated as more information is available.
