SH2 Melling Interchange revised concept design

In June, NZ Transport Agency and Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi Alliance shared an update to the design for the Melling Interchange. Once built this will replace the existing traffic lights on State Highway 2 (Melling and Tirohanga) with a grade-separated interchange.

We’ve received some questions from the community about this design and have provided some explanations below.

Traffic lights
There are three intersections that will be managed by traffic lights— two on top of the interchange, and one set for people heading south towards SH2 or the train station. These lights are needed to manage the flow of traffic to and from Lower Hutt and will be phased to help prevent queuing on the highway. There will no longer be traffic lights for straight-through traffic on SH2, helping traffic flow more easily.

Roundabout
A grade-separated roundabout like those at Dowse and Haywards was considered but wasn’t the most appropriate design given the tight environment and needs of this interchange. It also wouldn’t have been as effective at reducing congestion issues for Lower Hutt. The revised design will accommodate the higher traffic volumes and remove the current conflicting and dangerous right-hand turn movements across SH2. While the roundabout style is familiar for the Hutt Valley, interchanges including traffic lights for on and off-ramps are common, including on the Kapiti Expressway and Auckland motorways.

SH2 southbound access
Direct access from SH2 southbound onto the interchange was considered but would require adding a merge lane, increasing the overall bridge width, and complicate future opportunities to extend the train line north. 

Artist's impression of the new Melling interchange

Mills St stopbank riverworks—pools and riffles

In addition to stopbank construction, crews are progressing riverworks within Te Awa Kairangi / Hutt River. To protect the river while mitigating the risk of flooding and erosion, we’re creating pools and riffles for healthy water flow and fish habitats.

Pools increase the river’s capacity and slow down flow velocities in the river. They allow sediment to settle, which prevents it being transported downstream, and also provides refuge for fish. Riffles are shallow areas that allow water to flow quickly over it. In sequence with pools, they help control the river flow to prevent erosion.

For more information on this and Stage 2, visit teawakairangi.co.nz/mills-st-stopbank

Stopbank construction works are also continuing between the Melling Bridge and Melling Road with crews receiving large rocks, extracting gravel and producing sand, gravel and crushed stone to build the stopbank.

Lower Hutt skatepark

The site of the new Avalon Skatepark was blessed on Thursday 18 July by Mana Whenua, with the first sod turned by Deputy Mayor Tui Lewis alongside Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi partners as construction of the new facilities gets set to begin.

Avalon Park, including the site of the new skatepark, was once the location of Motutawa Pā. The pā was established between 1839 and 1846 by Ngāti Tama from Taranaki and Ngāti Rangatahi, a hapū from Ngāti Maniapoto, and provided access to the river and to what was then a dense forest abundant with food sources such as birds. While no trace of the pā remains today, the history of Motutawa Pā and the mana of that area does.

The existing skatepark will be closed from today (22 July 2024) to make way for the new, modern skatepark due to open this summer. It has been designed by the community, for the community and will feature six different skate zones that cater to beginner, intermediate and expert users. It will include:

• a mini bowl
• five different quarter pipes
• various rails, curbs and pole jams
• a five-sided funbox with ledge, and
• weather shelters, park furniture and CCTV.

For more information on the new skatepark, and a list of other places to skate while it’s being built, visit: huttcity.govt.nz/ new-skatepark-for-avalon-park

More information

For more information on Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi like our Facebook page for updates, visit our website, or send our team an email.

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Website: www.teawakairangi.co.nz

Email: info@teawakairangi.co.nz

About Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi

Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi (Te Awa Kairangi) – The Soothing Waters of Te Awa Kairangi 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, with the Alliance of AECOM and Fletcher Construction.

You can learn more at www.teawakairangi.co.nz