A one-night maintenance closure is planned for State Highway 2 Remutaka Hill later this month.

The route is set to be closed to traffic on the night of Sunday 18 May, from 9pm to 4am.

Weather permitting, road crews will be fixing barriers, repairing road signs and carrying out paving work. 

The work is part of regularly scheduled maintenance on the route and is designed to ensure the highway remains safe and reliable for drivers. This is especially important during winter when weather conditions increase the risk of slips and rockfalls on the route.

Escorted crossings are available for people who need to travel over the Remutaka Hill at night. They can be made on the NZTA/Waka Kotahi website:

Remutaka Hill closure escort booking form(external link)

Drivers are strongly encouraged to plan ahead and make a booking if they need to travel the route at night. The only available detour is a much longer trip via the Pahiatua Track or Saddle Road.

These crossings are available for light vehicles only. The nature of the work and the limited space on the road mean heavy vehicles cannot be accommodated.

Night works and full closures are safer for work crews, save on traffic management costs, and also allow the work to be completed faster. 

Traffic volumes on the route are significantly lower at night, meaning the work’s impact on drivers is minimised.

Important information for Remutaka Hill closures

• Escorted crossings are available during closure nights but must be booked in advance. We always communicate well before planned closures and provide contact details so bookings can be made.
• Bookings can be made online on the Waka Kotahi website - Remutaka Hill closure escort booking form(external link)
• Bookings are essential - drivers who turn up without one risk being turned away. If you have a genuine emergency on the night, the hill manager will decide how best to help you.
• The escorted crossings are for light vehicles only. To keep our contractors safe, heavy vehicles cannot be accommodated.
• Full access is always available for emergency services.

More information about planned maintenance closures for Remutaka Hill can be found on our website:

• SH2 Remutaka Hill road night closures(external link)
• Wellington Transport Alliance(external link)

Upcoming closure schedule

Drivers are also urged to make a note of  further maintenance closures planned for later this year. 

The have been carefully timed to avoid major events. However, regular users of the route should make a note of the dates in their diaries, and plan ahead to ensure they are not caught out by the closures.

State Highway 2, Remutaka Hill, planned night closures 2025

More information

• The Greater Wellington region has $162 million allocated for state highway maintenance and another $116 million ringfenced for state highway pothole prevention over the 2024/27 NLTP period – a total investment of $278 million.
  • National Land Transport Programme 2024/27. Greater Wellington Regional Investment Summary(external link)
• Wellington Transport Alliance(external link)
• State highway maintenance – FAQs(external link)
• Tips for driving through worksites (video)(external link)