Earlier this week, Transporting New Zealand had the opportunity of a site visit to the large SH2 Melling (Lower Hutt) upgrade project, organised by the Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport.
The SH2 Melling project is one of the Government’s Road of Regional Significance (RoRS) and involves construction of a new grade separated interchange at Melling and new 4-lane bridge over the Hutt River, to replace the current 2+1 lane bridge.
Amongst the work being undertaken is relocating underground sewerage and other services, slightly relocating the river stopbanks, and the last section of the Western Hutt railway line. Attendees at the site visit heard from the project alliance hosts that the new interchange will have the largest bored piles of any infrastructure in NZ.
The works will include some traffic disruption, including the closure of Queens Drive between Rutherford and High Street until 2029, and Block Rd adjacent to SH2.
The new interchange is planned to be opened by 2031, after which the current bridge will be dismantled.
- More project information here: nzta.govt.nz/projects/sh2-melling-transport-improvements
