Wairarapa drivers need to be ready for maintenance nightworks on State Highway 2 between Masterton and Carterton next Sunday night (2 August).

Wet winter conditions increase the risk of potholes and other road damage, making ongoing road maintenance critical.

Contractors will be patching two damaged sections of the highway, one near Ravensdown and the other near Norfolk Road roundabout. These sections of the highway have not been repaired or resurfaced recently.

The planned repairs will require excavation work meaning traffic won’t be able to drive through the affected areas.

A range of other maintenance work will also be completed. This includes litter control, cleaning and repairing road signs, fixing streetlights and repairing the wire rope barriers.

Vegetation affecting driver visibility will also be removed from the Wiltons/East Taratahi and Norfolk/Cornwall roundabout. This will improve safety at these intersections.

It means State Highway 2 will be closed in both directions between Hughes Lines and the Norfolk Road/Cornwall Street roundabout. The closure will run from 9 pm on Sunday, 2 August to 4:30 am on Monday, 3 August.

A full closure is safer for road crews. It also allows them to complete their work much faster.

A local road detour will be available via Hughes Line and Cornwall Street (see map below). This detour will add to journey times. Because it is on local roads, drivers should watch their speed, drive with caution, and take care when passing other vehicles.

NZTA/Waka Kotahi and the Wellington Transport Alliance understand full closures do create delays and disruption for drivers. Contractors will be working hard to complete the work as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Road repairs require dry weather to be effective. This maintenance may be delayed or rescheduled if bad weather occurs. Drivers are urged to check road conditions before they travel.

Works schedule and detour route

Sunday, 2 August, 9 pm – 4:30 am

• SH2 CLOSED between Hughes Line and the Norfolk Road/Cornwall Street roundabout.
• All traffic to detour via Hughes Line and Cornwall Street.