Melling transport improvements

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is working in partnership with Hutt City Council, Greater Wellington Regional Council, Taranaki Whānui, and Ngāti Toa, on RiverLink, a project that combines crucial flood protection work, the Melling transport improvements, and Hutt City urban revitalisation. Together, we want to make Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai (Lower Hutt) a more connected, resilient, and vibrant city.

The Melling transport improvements provides a new safer grade separated Melling interchange, a new road bridge over Te Awa Kairangi, a new walking and cycling bridge, relocation of the Melling train station to a new integrated public transport hub, and new shared pathways.

More information

You can check out the Councils’ websites for more information about their proposals:

• RiverLink project(external link)
• Greater Wellington flood protection plan(external link)
• Hutt City Council ‘Making Places’ campaign(external link)

• A new grade separated Melling/SH2 interchange.
• A new road bridge over Te Awa Kairangi (Hutt River), connecting the interchange to the Hutt City central city.
• Relocation of the Melling Train Station, creating a new bus, train, cycling and walking public transport hub. The new railway alignment will improve the reliability of the train service as well as provide more ‘park and ride’ options for commuters.
• A new pedestrian bridge connecting the new public transport hub to the central city to improve transport safety, reliability, and transport choice.
• New and improved walking and cycling shared paths along the river – with a separated cycling path joining Te Ara Tupua in the south, along the true right bank to Kennedy Good bridge in the north.
• Flood protection elements include new stopbanks along the river corridor, a wider channel and elimination of the channel restriction caused by the Melling Bridge.
• Improved lifestyle through re-orienting the city to face the river. Centre revitalisation through new and improved recreational spaces, new road layouts, and creating a ‘River City’ identity.

The Melling transport improvements aim to:

• provide resilient transport choices, reducing congestion and allowing people and businesses to move safely and reliably around the city centre
• increase flood protection and climate change resilience for people and property in Lower Hutt and areas south of the city
• support urban regeneration and economic development
• improve walking and cycling options, plus access to public transport
• contribute to Waka Kotahi Road to Zero and Vison Zero Safety Infrastructure programmes.

RiverLink will bring a wide range of benefits to the tens of thousands of Kiwis who live in, work in, and travel through Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai every day, and after many years of planning and development work, we’re really excited to finally be in a position to get on and deliver this project in 2023.

RiverLink resource consents have been granted by the Environment Court.

Procurement documents have been released, marking the start of our formal process to select a preferred team of designers and constructors to partner with to deliver the project. This procurement process is closed on 15 December 2022, with a preferred proponent announced in March 2023.

Early works are scheduled to start in early to mid-2023, with main construction starting in late 2023.

The RiverLink programme is expected to be completed in 2027.

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Email: melling-improvements@nzta.govt.nz