Hutt River Trail closures
Information on this page was last updated on 7 January 2026.
Hutt River Trail partial closure - western side
Section: Block Road to Kennedy Good Bridge
Dates: 20th 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 has been built along the eastern (city) side of the river between Kennedy Good Bridge and Melling Link Bridge. It is three metres wide, surfaced with compacted gravel, and is 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 is open now, as the western side is closed. This path goes around the outside of the construction area already in place on the eastern side of Te Awa Kairangi / Hutt River (see image 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 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: 20th 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 is closed (as per the map below).
Path users are being 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 are slightly less direct for some users, so if you’re commuting, please allow extra time for your journey.
We have clear maps and wayfinding signage around the area. 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.
Path closure update
With Block Rd and a portion of Pharazyn St (from just north of Marsden St) closed, and the steel safety barriers due to be installed on the southbound shoulder of SH2 (500m north of the Block Rd/Tirohanga Rd intersection to Normandale Bridge) in late January, the existing pedestrian crossing over SH2 from Tirohanga Rd to Block Rd is now closed.
Pedestrians/cyclists from Tirohanga Rd heading towards Lower Hutt need to use the existing crossing at the bottom of Harbour View Dr, followed by the existing crossing over SH2, before crossing the Melling Link Bridge to the eastern side of the river (or vice versa for the return journey). This is illustrated on the map below and signs have been installed on site.
Now that Queens Dr (between Rutherford St and High St) and the northern section of the Riverbank car park is closed, one of our initial tasks is to remove the roundabout island on Rutherford St. This work is currently ongoing and being undertaken at night to minimise traffic disruption. We anticipate this task to be completed by 19th January 2026.
At the same time, Wellington Electricity is relocating cables on Rutherford St, this work is estimated to be completed by late February 2026. Whilst these works are being undertaken, the shared path alongside the river will remain open between Melling Link Bridge and Ewen Bridge, with pedestrians also able to use the existing footpath on Rutherford St. This is illustrated on the map below and signs have been installed on site.
Once the roundabout on Rutherford St and the Wellington Electricity works are complete (estimate late February 2026), a temporary cycle path will be installed on the northbound lane on Rutherford St, from the existing pedestrian crossing (in line with the back of Woolworth’s car park), heading north past Harvey Norman, and connecting to the existing Melling Link Bridge. The shared path adjacent to the river will then terminate in line with the closed section of the Riverbank car park, as shown on the map below. Updated signage will be installed when this route changes, with updates shared on our Facebook, website and programme newsletter.
