Update: State Highway 2 Carterton, road rebuild
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi | 4 Sept 2026 3:14pm | Wellington
Road rebuilding works have been underway this week on State Highway 2 Carterton, near Andersons Line.
Contractors have been focussing on the southbound lane which is due to be complete by the end of today. The southbound detour via Somerset Road has been in place all week and contractors have managed to get the road back to a driveable height for the weekend ahead, meaning State Highway 2 will be fully open in both directions by this evening.
There will be a temporary speed limit and altered lane layout in place over the weekend to ensure construction quality standards are maintained.
Remaining works postponed
NZTA will reschedule remaining rebuild works in the northbound lane following the discovery of unexpected soft ground conditions during initial work undertaken this week. In order to ensure that the rebuild is delivered to the required standard, the ground conditions and the construction methodology will be re-assessed in the coming months.
We will update the community once a date has been scheduled to complete the northbound lane. Thank you to the community for your patience and understanding.
Check the NZTA website for information about the upcoming road rebuild on State Highway 2 Carterton, between Brooklyn Road and Howard Street.
Carterton road rebuilds project page | NZTA website (external link)
17 August:
The first phase of road rebuilding work on Wairarapa state highways is just a fortnight away.
State Highway 2 in Carterton will be the first major project of the season, with work due to begin on Monday, 31 August.
Contractors will be rebuilding the highway at the northern end of town near Andersons Line.
This will provide a much stronger foundation for the highway, making the pavement more durable and less prone to damage. It’ll also mean the highway will need fewer repairs and less maintenance in the future.
Weather permitting, the project will take around two weeks to complete. Road rebuilds do require good weather and schedules may change if conditions are not suitable.
Similar to rebuilds done last season, one lane of the highway will remain open to northbound traffic under a 30 km/h temporary speed limit at all times. The project will, however, require a 24/7 closure of the southbound lane and a local road detour (see map below).
Southbound traffic will have to detour via Somerset Road, Carters Line and Park Road. This is a longer route and will require extra travel time.
Because the detour is on local roads, drivers are asked to respect all local road speed limits, follow all traffic management in place, and drive with care through residential areas.
Because a road rebuild like this requires the highway to be excavated and heavy machinery to be used, the road is not safe for traffic. This is why a directional closure is necessary. However, the closure also allows the work to be completed faster, meaning overall disruption to the public is reduced.
NZTA/Waka Kotahi and the Wellington Transport Alliance thank drivers, local residents, and businesses for their patience and understanding while this critical state highway project is being completed..
Work schedule and detour map
- Monday 31 August to Sunday, 13 September, weather permitting (24/7)
- SH2 CLOSED between the Carrington House driveway on SH2 and Taratahi Hotel.
- Southbound traffic to detour via Somerset Road, Carters Line and Park Road 24/7.
- Northbound traffic can travel through SH2 under a 30 km/h temporary speed limit and altered lane layout.
More information: