Hutt River Trail closures
Hutt River Trail partial closure - western side
Section: Block Road to Kennedy Good Bridge
Dates: October 2025 until at least May 2026
As part of building the new Melling interchange, we need to close the Hutt River Trail on the western (State Highway 2) side of Te Awa Kairangi / Hutt River between Block Road and Kennedy Good Bridge, from early October 2025 until at least May 2026.
We need this area for a haul road and material storage – which frees up space elsewhere on the project site so we can work more efficiently, as well as keeping construction traffic off the roads as much as possible.
An alternative temporary shared path is being built along the eastern (city) side between Kennedy Good Bridge and Melling Link Bridge. It will be three metres wide, surfaced with compacted gravel, and be set well back from Harcourt Werry Drive behind the streetlights, and closer to the riverbank in some areas due to existing vegetation.
The new temporary path will be available as soon as the western side is closed. This path will go around the outside of the construction area already in place on the eastern side of Te Awa Kairangi / Hutt River (see section below).
The temporary route is slightly less direct than the one it’s replacing, so if you’re commuting, please allow extra time for your journey. We’ll have clear maps and wayfinding signage around the area. The team appreciates the loss of amenity and will reopen the area as soon as possible.
Regular updates will be posted on our Facebook page.
Hutt River Trail partial closure - western side
Section: South of Melling Link Bridge
Dates: Mid October 2025 until further notice
To enable us to relocate the existing water main on Pharazyn St and refurbish the Western Hills sewer main, part of the Hutt River Trail and riverbank reserve south of Melling Link Bridge on the western side will be closed (as per the map below).
Path users will be diverted to nearby street footpaths (Pharazyn St, Marsden St and Block Road), or the eastern side of Te Awa Kairangi / Hutt River. The alternative routes will be slightly less direct for some users, so if you’re commuting, please allow extra time for your journey.
We’ll have clear maps and wayfinding signage around the area (as per above and attached). The team appreciates the loss of amenity in this area but the riverbank reserve adjacent to Marsden St and south of Ewen Bridge remains fully open on both sides of the river.
Regular updates will be posted on our Facebook page.
Hutt River Trail partial closure - eastern side
Section: Melling Link to Kennedy Good Bridge
Dates: Currently closed
The eastern side of the Hutt River Trail between Melling Link and Kennedy Good bridges will remain closed to walkers and cyclists until we have completed all of the river work.
You can learn more about what we're doing on our river protection page.
We are committed to reopening the trail as soon as it is feasible, but the site has considerable hazards - unstable rock piles, uneven surfaces and heavy machinery.
Trail users will need to continue following the alternative route. Thank you for your patience and cooperation while we complete this important work.
