Frequently Asked Questions

About the Final Design

  1. What are the provisions for cyclists?
  2. How will the project impact traffic flows on Hutt City Council local roads?
  3. How does this project impact The Esplanade and the Petone roundabout area?
  4. How will I go north from the indoor sports centre on Western Hutt Road?
  5. How does this project tie in with the 'cross valley link' project that is often talked about?
  6. Will I be able to turn right at the bottom of the Korokoro Overbridge on to Hutt Road?
  7. Will there be traffic signals or a roundabout at the intersection of Korokoro Overbridge and Hutt Road?
  8. Why isn't there direct access between Korokoro and SH2?
  9. How many car parks are there at the Petone Park n Ride in the final design?
  10. How will pedestrians cross SH2 between Dowse Drive and Hutt Road?
  11. Where are the recycling bins that used to be at Korokoro?
  12. When is the Melling area going to be improved?
  13. How will I get in and out of Cornish Street?
  14. What are the clearances of the bridges at Dowse Interchange and Korokoro?

    15. About construction:

  15. Why aren’t there two lanes at the bottom of temporary Dowse drive?
  16. Why are there sometimes lane closures for no apparent reason?
  17. How do I turn right out of the Indoor Sports Centre during construction?
  18. How do I get to northbound SH2 from the Park n Ride during construction?
  19. Where can I park my car when I get the train during the construction period?
  20. Should I avoid the Dowse and Korokoro areas during peak times?
  21. What are you doing to safely work with asbestos in the old industrial buildings?
  22. Will there be an opportunity to walk over the Dowse Interchange prior to it being open?
  23. Which organisation looks after which aspect of the project?

1. What are the provisions for cyclists?

1.5m wide shoulders provide space for cyclists to cycle out of the flow of traffic.

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2. How will the project impact traffic flows on Hutt City Council local roads?

It is anticipated that there will be less northbound traffic using Hutt Road from Petone to Wakefield Street; through an increase in Hutt Road traffic north is Wakefield Street is expected.

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3. How does this project impact The Esplanade and the Petone roundabout area?

It is anticipated that many motorists will use Dowse Interchange as their gateway to and exit from Hutt City, therefore slightly reducing the traffic in these areas.

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4. How will I go north from the indoor sports centre on Western Hutt Road?

Motorists will need to travel south to Ngaraunga Interchange in order to safely turn to head north.

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5. How does this project tie in with the 'cross valley link' project that is often talked about?

The new Hutt Road roundabout which allows Hutt Road traffic to enter and exit Dowse Interchange has been designed to cater for increased traffic volume should a Cross Valley Link road become a reality.

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6. Will I be able to turn right at the bottom of the Korokoro Overbridge on to Hutt Road?

Yes. The bottom of the Korokoro Bridge splits in to two lanes so that left turning traffic is not held up by right turning traffic. The traffic island currently preventing the right hand turn will be removed to allow motorists a direct southbound route along Hutt Road. The amount of traffic travelling both along Hutt Road and from Korokoro will be reduced from what it is now, making this turn easier than in the past. However motorists are still free to follow the current left hand turn route if they find the right hand turn too difficult.

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7. Will there be traffic signals or a roundabout at the intersection of Korokoro Overbridge and Hutt Road?

No. There is not room for a roundabout at this intersection. Traffic signals are not deemed necessary at this stage as the amount of traffic travelling both along Hutt Road and from Korokoro will be significantly reduced. Motorists are still free to follow the current left hand turn route if they find the right hand turn too difficult.

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8. Why isn’t there direct access between Korokoro and SH2?

Direct access to SH2 northbound is provided via Priests Ave. There is not room between the cemetery and the railway line to fit in a South bound link. Motorists can travel a short distance north to Dowse Interchange to turn around, or travel south to the Petone Roundabout using Hutt Road.

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9. How many car parks are there at the Petone Park n Ride in the final design?

There are over 170 car parks in the final design at Petone park n Ride on the rail side of SH2. Greater Wellington Regional Council is currently looking in to acquiring some land on the other side of the footbridge for further commuter car parking.

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10. How will pedestrians cross SH2 between Dowse Drive and Hutt Road?

There is a footpath on the south side of the Dowse Interchange structure and there is a staircase from the structure directly to the odd numbered side of Hutt Road (note these are missing from the 3D illustrations on this web site).

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11. Where are the recycling bins that used to be at Korokoro?

Hutt City Council has relocated these bins to a site on Wakefield Street.

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12. When is the Melling area going to be improved?

The Melling Interchange is not part of the D2P Project. Transit aims to have this Interchange prepared for design by the end of 2011.

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13. How will I get in and out of Cornish Street?

Cornish Street becomes left in only from SH2. Vehicles entering from the North will enter using Pito-One Road, which runs parallel to SH2 under the hill. All vehicles will exit Cornish Street using Pito-One Road.

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14. What are the clearances of the bridges at Dowse Interchange and Korokoro?

Dowse Interchange and Korokoro Overbridge both have clearances of over 6m.

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15. Why aren’t there two lanes at the bottom of temporary Dowse drive?

Large vehicles require the entire width to turn in both directions; therefore there is not space for two legal lanes.

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16. Why are there sometimes lane closures for no apparent reason?

There will always be a reason for a lane closure. Such a closure is often in place for the safety of workers and motorists when work is taking place immediately behind a barrier. It can also be that a lane closure is put in at the same time as another one further down the road, even if it's not needed for a few hours. This is because the process of installing the closure causes a minor temporary disruption to traffic, therefore it is in everyone's best interests to install both closures at the same time.

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17. How do I turn right out of the Indoor Sports Centre during construction?

Turn immediately prior to the temporary median barriers in to the temporary diversion road. When a lane closure is in place, there will be spaces in the cones to allow this.

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18. How do I get to northbound SH2 from the Park n Ride during construction?

Turn left on to south bound SH2 and then right in to Priests Ave, which will take you to north bound SH2.

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19. Where can I park my car when I get the train during the construction period?

There are over 130 legal car parks in the Park & Ride car park on the rail side of SH2. There are also 12 marked out car parks on the other side of SH2, and room for about 30 more cars in the empty adjacent lot. These can be accessed via the footbridge.

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20. Should I avoid the Dowse and Korokoro areas during peak times?

There is no need to avoid these areas at peak times. Two lanes in the appropriate direction are open during peak times, and the traffic is travelling at the same speed as which it has always travelled during peak times.

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21. What are you doing to safely work with asbestos in the old industrial buildings?

Every precaution is taken when demolishing buildings with asbestos in them in order to protect the public and the demolition crew. Safety clothing and masks are worn; curtains are put up to prevent spread of dust particles; and asbestos cladding is wrapped in polythene and disposed of at designated dump sites. The area is checked by specialists after removal to ensure all asbestos is removed. As\ with all relatively risky activities, Department of Labour are notified that the activity is happening.

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22. Will there be an opportunity to walk over the Dowse Interchange prior to it being open?

At this stage we plan to run an open day 'walk over' in conjunction with Rotary. This will happen within a few weeks prior to the Interchange opening to traffic. Further details will come closer to the time.

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23. Which organisation looks after which aspect of the project?

D2P Project Office

(Fletcher Higgins Joint Venture as contractors to Transit New Zealand)

0800 D2P 555

(0800 327 555)

-    The construction phase of the D2P project in any area

-     The final design of SH2 in the D2P project area

Transit New Zealand

Transit Wellington Regional Office:

04 801 2580

-     SH2 outside the D2P project, such at the Petone Overbridge and Melling

Greater Wellington Regional Council

04 384 5708

-     Petone railway station

-    Petone railway station car parking

-     Waterways

Hutt City Council

Call Centre:

04 570 6666

Info line:

04 570 6660

Option 8

-     All roads in Lower Hutt City other than SH2

-     Car parking on Hutt City Council roads

-     Noise control

-     Petone Footbridge

-     Recycling bins

Metlink

0800 801 700

-     Public bus and train services and timetables

Ontrack

04 495 3000

-     Railway lines

-     Land surrounding railway lines

New Zealand Police

Lower Hutt Police:

04 560 2600

Emergency: 111

-     Vehicle speed on Hutt City roads and SH2

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