Rutherford Street closure January 2027
In mid-January 2027, we'll close Rutherford Street where it meets Queens Drive to carry out upgrades to the intersection.
This intersection is where the new bridge over Te Awa Kairangi / Hutt River joins the CBD. We need to upgrade it from a single-lane roundabout to a high-capacity intersection with traffic lights, so it can cope with increased traffic volumes once the bridge and new SH2 interchange are finished. The upgrades will take around two years.
We've spent much of 2026 completing similar upgrades at the High Street/Queens Drive intersection, which is due to reopen in December. The current closure on the section of Queens Drive between Rutherford Street and High Street will remain in place.
This work is part of the SH2 Melling Transport Improvements project, being delivered under the wider Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi programme.
Access to Woolworths and Harvey Norman will stay open but the section of Rutherford Street between them will close (shown in orange above). We're also creating a new access to PetVet from High Street, so customers (and their pets!) can still get safely in and out of the clinic during the works.
We acknowledge this closure is another big change for the city and it will take some getting used to. However, having the upgraded Queens Drive/High Street intersection open again will help with congestion through the area.
A complete closure creates the safest environment for our crews to work in. It also helps with getting the work done faster when compared to another arrangement like a partial closure or using stop/go traffic management.
About the temporary cycleway
To meet our consent conditions, we need to make sure people cycling and walking can move around our site safely. We have a temporary route along Rutherford Street in place now, and when that section of Rutherford Street closes, the route needs to change. We've worked closely with Hutt City Council to confirm the safest and most direct route around the work area, while the riverbank behind Harvey Norman is closed. The High Street route minimises road and business access crossings and uses existing paths where possible.
The temporary cycleway impacts 27 car parks, meaning there will be fewer car parks on High Street for people to use while the cycleway is in place. However, we’re looking into the option of creating new temporary parks on Rutherford Street.
About the work we'll be doing inside the closure
We need to complete service and utility upgrades (much like the work we’re doing at the Queens Drive/High Street intersection) and raise the height of the intersection by two metres so it aligns with the new bridge over Te Awa Kairangi / Hutt River.
We'll also be constructing a new substation which will transfer high-voltage electricity from the national grid to local homes and businesses.
The finishing touches to the intersection will include new footpaths, streetlights, traffic lights and road markings.
Frequently asked questions
If people use High Street instead of Rutherford Street, will it be busy and congested? We expect the traffic patterns on Rutherford Street to carry over to High Street. We'll encourage people to plan ahead and use alternative routes.
How can I stay informed about the work? Subscribe for our monthly newsletter at the top of this page; follow us on Facebook by searching "Te Awa Kairangi - Delivering Riverlink"; contact the project team at info@teawakairangi.co.nz or call us on 0800 456 465.
Who is responsible for the work and closure? The intersection upgrades form part of the SH2 Melling Transport Improvements project. This work is being delivered by the Alliance of AECOM and Fletcher Construction, on behalf of the NZ Transport Agency.