Updated 2 June 2023
Ngāūranga to Upper Hutt intersection upgrades
What’s happened so far?
In 2021 we carried out feasibility design work for physical safety improvements on 14 intersections along 25km of SH2 from Ngāūranga to Upper Hutt (excluding Melling Interchange, which is a separate project). This was about gathering information and determining the best proposed safety improvements.
As part of this phase, we engaged with key stakeholders that have an interest in the road corridor to provide feedback on the options. Full details of the stakeholders involved are included in our engagement report.
Ngāūranga to Featherston speed review and safety improvements public engagement report [PDF, 9.5 MB]
The project team produced a Feasibility Design Report at the end of this stage (Feb 2022) and decision makers agreed to take a staged approach to this work, with the first stage to include an initial four intersections – Moonshine Hill Road, Owen Street, Hebden Crescent and Liverton Road. These four intersections have been identified as high-risk for death and serious injury. They have unsafe layouts not suitable for high-speed and high-volume traffic, including the potential for serious side-impact crashes.
In late 2022, we let residents, businesses and key stakeholders know about the decision to move forward with these intersections.
What’s happening now?
We’re working on the designs for these safety improvements before we move to construction. This is taking a little longer than expected, so we’ll be looking to start in the next summer construction season from November 2023.
Construction scheduling and scope is being worked on, and we’ll let you know more as soon as we have the info.
We’ll be taking a staged approach to the proposed upgrades to minimise the construction impacts on traffic and neighbourhoods.
Moonshine Hill Road
Moonshine Hill Road will have new traffic lights (signals) and a proposed posted speed limit change on the northbound lane. The intersection design will include measures to encourage drivers to reduce speeds on the approach to the intersection, including platforms known as ‘raised safety platforms.’
This intersection is a crash hotspot with many serious and fatal crashes in recent years, so it was important to include in the first stage of improvements.
Hebden Crescent near Owen Street and near Liverton Road
The intersection at Hebden Crescent near Owen Street will be closed and road users will be diverted to use Hebden Crescent by Liverton Road for access.
The Hebden Crescent intersection by Liverton Road will be converted to allow left-hand turns in and out, only. The ability to turn right will be removed and the median barrier extended to make it continuous.
Road users wanting to turn south will either turn left out and use the SH2/SH58 interchange to turn around or use the northern end of Hebden Crescent (Belmont Regional Park entrance) to exit directly onto the interchange. Road users from the north will also be able to use the Belmont Regional Park entrance onto Hebden Crescent at the SH2/SH58 interchange. This route is suitable for heavy vehicles.
Owen Street
At Owen Street we’ll be installing traffic signals to better control the four-way intersection. This is likely to be the first stage of further improvements that will be made later in the project.
