Road closures planned
Regular users of State Highway 2 over the Remutaka Hill are being advised to plan for road closures in February and March.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is advising the road will be closed for five nights, 9pm to 4am each night, from Sunday night, February 27, to Friday morning, March 4, to allow road crews to safely complete essential work.
The five-night road closures are needed to enable road crews to safely undertake maintenance and slip prevention works to ensure the ongoing safety of everyone using the vital link between Wellington and Wairarapa. The Remutaka Hill road is steep, narrow and winding which makes it a challenging environment to work in.
An escorted crossing service will be available for light vehicles, to ensure access for shift workers and those who must cross the Remutaka Hill for essential journeys during these night closures. There will be only three escorted crossings available per night, and motorists are advised to plan ahead.
Trucks will not be able to cross during these closures. Bookings for the escorted crossings are essential and should be arranged by February 25. Access will remain available for emergency services as needed. Northbound travellers deciding to detour via the Pahiatua Track should be aware that SH57 Kimberley Road at Levin is closed in stages to northbound traffic for safety work.
Don’t forget to check out Friday Feathered Friend on Neighbourly. One of the regular contributors is Louise Thomas who is lucky enough to have a kārearea in her Lower Hutt garden. ‘‘A falcon has taken to skulking in the oak tree outsidemy office.
She is a little nefarious, watching the sparrows and rock pigeons (falcon fodder) in the park and on my front lawn until the tūī call her out by screeching at her. A shady character, but I love her.
Here she is trying to sell me a used watch.
New Zealand falcon/kārearea (Falco novaeseelandiae), immature female, Woburn, Lower Hutt.
I assume this must be the offspring of the more mature female who sometimes does the rounds around here as well.’’