Disruption management during construction

Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi is made up of three interconnected projects, which each involve large amounts of work on and off the road. 

The way we’re working will allow different projects to happen on each side of Te Awa  Kairangi/Hutt River at the same time. 

This will mean significant changes to how you move around the city but will enable work to happen quickly and efficiently – while keeping you and those working on site safe.

What can I do to avoid disruption?

It’s important to remember that large infrastructure projects, such as this one, are complex and disruption will be inevitable. While these disruptions will be inconvenient at times, this project will bring long-term benefits to the community.

The best way you can avoid disruption during construction is to think about alternative ways to get where you’re going. This may look like:

Taking public transport

While Melling station is being relocated, the Hutt Valley line will continue to provide frequent and fast connections from Waterloo, Woburn, Ava and Petone stations into Wellington. Fares from Waterloo are the same as those from Melling.

Buses #145 and #149 will also take you to Waterloo station for easy connection, or you can take the #83 bus from Queensgate Shopping Centre direct into Wellington.

A new temporary park and ride is also being built in Petone (located on the corner of Priests Avenue and Pito-One Road) to mitigate disruption to commuters.

Walking or cycling

The Pito-One to Melling section of Te Ara Tupua provides connections to the existing Hutt River Trail, and a direct cycleway for you to use.

Once the rest of the Ngā Ūranga to Pito-One section of Te Ara Tupua opens next year, you’ll be able to walk and cycle between Wellington and Lower Hutt more safely.

You’ll also be able to walk and cycle as normal where construction work is not happening.

Bike racks are also available at Petone and Waterloo stations if you want to cycle to the train.

Car sharing

Car sharing will help to reduce congestion along the state highway and local roads as construction ramps up. It will also open up more parking in both Lower Hutt and Wellington.

Using alternative routes

If you do have to drive or travel through areas where we’re working, we recommend you take an alternative route where possible as some roads/paths will need to close at times.

How can I stay connected?

We’ll let you know what is happening and where as soon as possible, so you can plan your journeys.

Make sure you’re following Te Awa Kairangi – Delivering RiverLink on Facebook and sign up to our monthly newsletter as this is where updates and news on what’s happening will be shared.

We’ll also continue to update the coordinated construction programme table as activities and timeframes are confirmed.

If a piece of work impacts you directly, someone from the project will be in touch in advance of things starting.

If you have any questions, please email info@teawakairangi.co.nz

Hutt River Trail closures update

On Monday, we fully closed the Hutt River Trail on the western (state highway) side of the river, between Marsden Street up towards Kennedy Good Bridge. We’ve built a temporary alternative path down the eastern (city) side between Melling and Kennedy Good bridges — which will be the only path available through the area for the foreseeable future. Access between Melling and Ewen bridges will only be via the existing paths on the city side.

The new temporary path is three metres wide, surfaced with compacted gravel, and is set well back from Harcourt Werry Drive behind the streetlights. It’s closer to the riverbank in some areas due to existing vegetation.

We fully appreciate these areas are a big loss for the community, but we can’t build the new Melling interchange and bridge, and new train station/park and ride without them. Closing the areas means we can work as efficiently as possible, as well as keeping construction traffic off the roads as much as we can.

There’s clear maps and wayfinding signage in multiple locations around the area. Please note that these new routes will be slightly less direct for some users, so please allow extra time for your journey.

More information can be found on our website.

Melling station scheduled to close in December

Melling Station will close from 24 December 2025 as construction of the Melling Transport Improvements for Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi gets underway.

The station and its park-and-ride facilities are set to remain closed for around three years. During this time, the Melling line will begin and end at Western Hutt.

While the station is closed, the Hutt Valley line will continue to provide frequent and fast connections from Waterloo, Woburn, Ava and Petone stations into Wellington. Fares from Waterloo are the same as those from Melling.

For more details about these alternative travel options and to choose the route that’s right for you, visit Metlink's website.

Work to relocate underground cables starting in November

From mid-November major works to relocate underground electricity cables currently within the construction zone will begin.

We’ve asked Wellington Electricity to get this done now, before major construction gets underway, to help avoid future disruption and keep the wider project on track.

What to expect
Work will be delivered in three sections from November 2025.

Crews will work during the day and, in some areas, at night to minimise disruption, keep access open, and complete the project as quickly and safely as possible.

The first two sections of work will take place between November 2025 and April 2026.

The third section is scheduled to commence in March 2026, and more detail will be available closer to the time.

This will impact the following roads as work progresses:

• Connolly Street
• Rutherford Street
• Melling Link Road
• Part of Melling Bridge
• Dudley Street
• Andrews Avenue
• Parts of  High Street
• Laings Road
• Queens Drive
• Ewen Bridge
• Marsden Street

If your home or business is on the route, you’ll receive further information from Greater Wellington and Wellington Electricity before the work begins.

Wherever possible, at least one lane along the route will remain open.

Access to businesses and homes will be maintained throughout, and clear signage and traffic management will be in place to keep the city moving.

Further details about timings and traffic management updates will be posted regularly on www.welectricity.co.nz/major-projects/teawakairangi

Daly Steet demolition to begin in October

Greater Wellington is preparing for the next stage of flood protection resilience along Te Awa Kairangi/Hutt River — building a new stop bank alongside Daly Street.

To make way for this, buildings on Daly Street and at the southern end of High Street are scheduled for demolition in the first quarter of 2026. Ahead of that — from late October — we’ll begin a rolling programme of internal strip-out and asbestos removal at 4 Daly Street.

This will be followed by 5 Daly Street early in the New Year and properties at the southern end of High Street as they become vacant. Dates and timeframes are still being finalised and will be shared before work gets underway. 

Safety remains our top priority and all work will be carried out under strict safety and environmental standards. Fencing will be in place to guide pedestrians and cyclists around the immediate worksite. 

A new stop bank at Daly Street will deliver increased resilience from the risk of severe flooding which currently threatens more than 3,000 homes, five schools, and 600 businesses, and could cost up to $1.1 billion in damages. 

The work also supports urban revitalisation across Hutt City.

Streetscapes update — thank you!

Throughout August and September, we asked for feedback on how to make our city centre safer, more vibrant, and better connected. 

View a wrap up of what we heard at Shape the heart of your city.

We're now incorporating key themes and feedback into the Streetscape Strategy before its adoption by Hutt City Council. 

Watch this space for more opportunities to be involved as the project moves into design in 2026!

Alliance moves into new office

Last week the Alliance team (delivering SH2 Melling Transport Improvements) officially moved into their new office in Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai — Lower Hutt.

Te Āti Awa Taranaki Whānui held a tohi tāngaengae (blessing) with members of the Alliance. The tohi tāngaengae is an expression of tikanga (protocol) when opening a whare (building) specifically for those who are to live or work within. Under Te Āti Awa tikanga, the tohi tāngaengae is carried out pre-dawn. Tohi means ceremony and tāngaengae is the dedication of the building to the Alliance.

We're preparing our two site compounds one along Pharazyn Street and another on Rutherford Street/Queens Drive, so you will start to see more high-vis in the area. We look forward to getting to know our neighbours better and getting involved in community events.

Minister turns the first sod at Melling

In September, the team alongside Transport Minister Chris Bishop turned the first sod on the State Highway 2 Melling Transport Improvements — a key part of Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi.

The new interchange will make travel on SH2 more efficient and safer, and will be transformational for Lower Hutt. It will also enable delivery of crucial flood protection work and city centre infrastructure upgrades.

We look forward to seeing work progress over the coming years.

Businesses update

Opportunities for businesses to get involved in the programme

All the programme partners are focused on providing opportunities for local businesses, workers and suppliers throughout this large programme of works.

Greater Wellington has already begun stop bank construction and river works along Te Awa Kairangi/Hutt River. Later this year, NZ Transport Agency will begin the Melling Transport Improvements main construction works and Hutt City Council will begin design work on the CityLink bridge from 2026.

As more opportunities arise to tender for work, we will notify businesses.

More information on work for tender will be shared in future updates. In the meantime, fill out a Registration of Interest in projects being delivered across the whole programme.

For more information about procurement, visit our website.

You can also email our procurement team with any questions.

Current vacancies

There are great opportunities to get involved in Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi — either in roles dedicated to the project or supporting it through one of our partners. 

The Alliance is currently recruiting for: 

• Quantity Surveyor
• Senior Project Engineer
• Civil Supervisor
• Senior Operator
• Health & Safety Manager
• Finance Manager

Hutt City Council is also looking for a Senior Procurement Specialist whose projects include Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi. 

Tip: Set up a custom SEEK search using “Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi” to be the first to hear when new jobs are posted — including roles with Fletcher Construction and other project partners.