It’s a busy time in our city, find out what works are happening now, and info to help you get around.
Alongside Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi (formerly RiverLink) and other major infrastructure investments, we’re going through one of the most significant periods of change in our city’s history. There will be changes that affect how you experience and navigate our city.
This page brings together information on projects happening across the city and where to find out more about them, as well as tools to help you get around while Lower Hutt’s transformation is underway.
For information on local roadworks visit Current roadworks and temporary closures.
Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi is a transformational programme of work for our city. It brings together flood protection, river restoration, transport upgrades, a new pedestrian and cycling bridge and city centre revitalisation.
The programme is a partnership between iwi Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika and Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Greater Wellington, Hutt City Council and NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi.
- Greater Wellington Regional Council is leading the flood protection works that will deliver an increase in protection to a 1 in 440-year event, and also protect the ecological health of the river.
- NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi is leading the SH2 Melling Transport Improvements, including building a new grade-separated interchange and removing the existing Melling/Tirohanga traffic lights.
- Hutt City Council is leading the parts of the programme that shape our city centre and support the people, including upgrades to our city centre streets, a new riverside park and car park, the new City Link Bridge for pedestrians and cyclists, and moving the riverbank market.
To enable works for Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi including the new Melling Bridge, stop banks, and shared pathways, Wellington Electricty (on behalf of Greater Wellington) also need to relocate substations and underground electricity cables inside the construction zone.
Follow Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi on Facebook for regular updates or sign up for the monthly newsletter.
What's happening?
Top things to know for the week ahead to help you get around:
| When | What |
|---|---|
| Sunday 20 September | Hutt Marathon - Traffic management will be in place on Saturday morning near Hīkoikoi Reserve and through Seaview. Expect more people and some delays if traveling through the area. |
| Tuesday 22 September | One night SH2 southbound full road closure from Melling Link intersection to Dowse Drive interchange for Wellington Transport Alliance surfacing works and gantry inspections in addition to the service relocation works. Detour available via local roads in Lower Hutt. |
| Sunday 20 September to Thurday 24 September | Ongoing overnight SH2 southbound lane closures (8pm and 5am) between the Melling Link intersection and Normandale Bridge for service relocation works. |
| Ongoing | Wellington Electricity (on behalf of Greater Wellington) continues their cable work across the city centre – find out more. |
| Until further notice | Marsden Street is now one-way northbound. |
For information on local roadworks that might be on a street near you, visit Current roadworks.
Last updated: 17 September 2026
Big changes to expect on our roads over the next 6 months:
| When | What |
|---|---|
| November 2026 | Eastern Hutt Road resilience work |
| December 2026 | Queens Drive / High Street intersection reopens |
| Mid-January 2027 | Rutherford Street / Queens Drive intersection closes |
| January 2027 | Hutt Saturday Market moves to Dowse Square |
For more information on what’s works are coming up in our city centre for Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi, see the Coordinated Construction Programme.
Last updated: 17 September 2026
Roads
| When | What |
|---|---|
| Until December 2026 | Queens Drive and High Street intersection closed |
| Until 2029 | Queens Drive closed between Rutherford Street and High Street |
| Until 2029 | Pharazyn Street is closed from near Marsden Street to Block Road. |
Footpaths
| When | What |
|---|---|
| Ongoing | Hutt River Trail western side of river (from 800m south of Kennedy Good Bridge to 500m north of Ewen Bridge) is closed. Pedestrians and cyclists need to use the alternative paths on the eastern (city) side of the river. |
| Permanent | Pedestrian crossing across SH2 from Tirohanga Road to Block Road is permanently closed. |
| Until further notice | Ava Rail Bridge Walkway is closed. |
Other
| When | What |
|---|---|
| Permanent | North section of Riverbank Car Park is permanently closed. |
| Ongoing | Melling Station including the car park and the Melling Park & Ride facilities is closed. Melling Line service is still running but stops at Western Hutt. Additional parking is available at Petone Station. |
| Until 2029 | Pharazyn Street is closed from near Marsden Street to Block Road. |
Last updated: 17 September 2026
Planning your journey
Hutt City Council has local traffic cameras across Lower Hutt, in addition to state highway cameras from NZTA, so you can check traffic conditions before you leave.
Mapping apps are a great tool to check before you head out, particularly if you need to be somewhere by a certain time.
Based on community feedback we’ll be prioritising getting updates to Google Maps and Waze, so with time these two apps will become more accurate to help plan your journeys.
Google Maps or Waze or download the apps.
Metlink has the most up-to-date information on any changes to bus routes or bus stops during work.
Check journey options and route suggestions on State Highway 2 (and other local state highways) with NZTA’s Journey Planner. The planner includes travel times, incidents, roadworks, closures and cameras.
Parking in the city centre will continue to change to support construction works.
For the remainder of 2026, you can park in the southern end of the Riverbank Car Park, with access via the Daly Street entrance.
HC3 (or all day parking) options have now been extended around the city centre and additional parking opened up on 10-12 Daly Street.
Parking in Lower Hutt or Parking Zones Map
Did you know you can pay for parking using the PayMyPark app?