SH2 Wairarapa highway improvements

14 December 2022

December 2022 update

Welcome to the latest update on the SH2 Wairarapa highway improvements. If you know anyone who might be interested in these updates, they can sign up here.

Wrapping up 2022

It’s been quite the journey since the project’s sod turn in late July. We’ve had to combat a very long wet winter and spring, which made construction work challenging, and faced many cold and miserable nightshifts to get specific work done which would otherwise be disruptive to the daytime traffic flow. However, we’re still well on schedule, and the team has  welcomed the improved weather conditions over the last few weeks.

Work is progressing on all areas of the project, from early works on the Ngaumutawa roundabout on the south side of Masterton, through to the Southern turnaround at Clareville.

Service relocations are underway at Ngaumutawa and physical construction of the roundabout will start early in the new year. At Norfolk Road, the overhead power cables have been rerouted to underground, and the now-redundant power poles have been removed. All traffic islands have been removed and temporary widening has been completed for the merging lanes into Norfolk Road.

In the section between Norfolk and Wiltons Road, drainage and pavement work is complete, with sealing and marking of the new section of road to follow shortly after. Concrete barriers will be placed further south for the next section of road to be built.

Wiltons Road will remain closed on weekdays during the day until 18 December for the construction of the Wiltons Road roundabout.  This includes preparation of the pavement for the traffic island, after which the road surface will be sealed.

From Wiltons Road to the Southern Turnaround facility, the first section of trenching and laying ducts for services is complete, and base layers of the new pavement are in place. This section is now being prepared for sealing. More concrete barriers will be placed further south for the next section of road to be built.

A short break and ahead into 2023

All work on site will stop from midday Wednesday 21 December until 9am Monday 9 January.

Although no work will be taking place during this time, the area will still be a construction site. Concrete barriers will remain in place with changed road layouts. Traffic management will stay in place with temporary speed restrictions, and passing lanes will remain closed.

After this short break over the festive season, 2023 will see an ongoing programme where construction work will continue to take place simultaneously across all areas of the project. 

One of the first major changes you’ll notice is at East Taratahi Road, which will be closed at the SH2 intersection from 9 January 2023 till 27 January 2023. As with the closure of Wiltons Road, the closure will be in place on weekdays during the daytime to enable the construction of the Wiltons Roundabout. During this time residents will be able to access East Taratahi Road via Hughes Line.

You will also notice an increase in both day and night-time activity with various construction teams rotating dayshifts and nightshifts. Where possible, we’ll carry out our most disruptive work at night, to minimise the project’s impact on daytime traffic.

Thank you to everyone using SH2 for your patience, care and understanding while driving past our work sites. The entire team wishes you all safe journeys and a happy festive season.

On behalf of Waka Kotahi we would like to wish you an enjoyable summer break. If you are travelling on our highways this summer please drive with care. You can check out our Journey Planner for information on road works and other changes to be aware of on your summer road trip: journeys.nzta.govt.nz 

More information

Thank you to everyone using SH2 for your patience, care and understanding while driving past our work sites.

If you have any questions, comments or feedback you can get in touch by phone on 0800 353 824 or email us at SH2Wairarapa@nzta.govt.nz.