Around $30 million will be spent resurfacing and rebuilding state highways across the Wellington region during the upcoming summer maintenance season.
The Wellington Transport Alliance plans to resurface 36km of highway with asphalt, rebuild another 5km and apply chipseal to 16km across Wellington, the Hutt Valley, Wairarapa and Kāpiti Coast.
Wellington Alliance manager Roxanne Hilliard says the programme will improve road conditions across the region.
“We will be investing around $30 million for this season’s work programme. The outcome will be better state highways and an improved experience for drivers,” Hilliard says.
Wairarapa
Work has already started in the Wairarapa, with a State Highway 2 rebuild near Andersons Line in Carterton beginning at the end of August.
The discovery of unexpected soft ground conditions means the remaining work at that site will be completed later.
A further Carterton rebuild is planned near Brooklyn Road during September, followed by work in Greytown in November and Solway, Masterton, in April 2027.
Transmission Gully
Drainage, resurfacing and pavement reconstruction will take place on State Highway 1 Transmission Gully over summer.
Precise dates and work schedules have yet to be confirmed.
The programme will be significantly smaller than the work undertaken last summer, with most activity expected to be completed using lane closures rather than full road closures.
Further details will be released when the timetable is finalised.
Wellington
Maintenance work has begun on State Highway 1 between Wellington Airport and Ngauranga.
A road rebuild on Cobham Drive was completed in late August, while further rebuilds are scheduled at Churton Park and Newlands during October.
Resurfacing is also planned on the State Highway 1 Urban Motorway in early October.
Drivers will need to use signposted detours during the motorway closure and are being advised to plan ahead.
Hutt Valley
An extensive State Highway 2 resurfacing programme is planned between Lower Hutt and Upper Hutt, with crews working at sites from Horokiwi to Māoribank.
“Drivers can expect night closures and local road detours through the Hutt Valley while we carry out significant improvements on State Highway 2,” Hilliard says.
Motorists can also expect disruption around Lower Hutt from work on the separate Melling transport improvements project.
Although the project is not part of the summer maintenance programme, it is expected to affect journey times.
Kāpiti Coast
A State Highway 1 rebuild is planned at Manakau, between Ōtaki and Levin, along with resurfacing work at Waikanae.
“Once the rebuild in Manakau is complete, drivers can expect a safer, smoother and more resilient road, while reducing the need for short-term maintenance,” Hilliard says.
Drivers warned to expect delays
The Wellington Transport Alliance says the summer programme will create delays, night closures and temporary speed restrictions across the region.
“We are aware that most people don’t like roadworks and traffic management. However, we also know people don’t like potholes or damaged roads either,” Hilliard says.
“It is important that people see the summer maintenance programme for what it actually is: an investment in critical transport infrastructure. Doing this work now, prevents costlier and more disruptive repairs later.”
Drivers are being urged to allow additional travel time, follow temporary speed limits and take care around road crews.
“Our road crews are working incredibly close to live traffic lanes. A small mistake can have disastrous and devastating consequences. Please slow down when travelling through road work sites,” Hilliard says.
Lower speed limits may remain in place when sites are unattended or newly laid surfaces are bedding in because loose chip can damage vehicles and the road surface.
The alliance says most major rebuilding and chipsealing must be completed between spring and autumn because the work requires warm, dry conditions.
