Broken Down in a Wellington Tunnel — Terrace and Mt Victoria Tunnel Guide

Wellington’s Two Major Tunnels

Wellington has two major road tunnels that carry significant traffic and create unique breakdown scenarios:

• Terrace Tunnel: Carries SH1 beneath The Terrace between the Ngauranga Gorge interchange and the CBD. One of Wellington's most critical traffic arteries.
• Mt Victoria Tunnel: Carries traffic beneath Mt Victoria between the CBD and the eastern suburbs (Hataitai, Kilbirnie, and the airport). Built in 1931, it is one of NZ's oldest road tunnels and operates with two single-lane bores.

Why Tunnel Breakdowns Are Critical

Both Wellington tunnels have limited or zero shoulder space. A broken-down vehicle blocks an entire tunnel lane, creating immediate and total disruption to Wellington's traffic flow. The enclosed environment also creates additional safety risks from exhaust fumes and the psychological stress of a confined breakdown. Response must be rapid.

If You Break Down in a Wellington Tunnel

Immediate Steps

1. Hazards on immediately
2. Attempt to exit the tunnel — if the vehicle can move at all, slow roll to the tunnel exit is always preferable to stopping inside
3. If the vehicle cannot move: Stay in the vehicle with hazards on. Do not attempt to exit into moving tunnel traffic.
4. Call 111 — tunnel breakdowns are treated as emergency incidents. NZTA will close the tunnel bore.
5. Call Towing Wellington on 04 280 6495 — we work with NZTA tunnel closure protocols

What Happens Next

NZTA's Traffic Operations Centre monitors both Wellington tunnels via closed-circuit cameras 24/7. When a breakdown is detected or reported, the affected tunnel bore is typically closed to incoming traffic immediately. NZTA incident response vehicles may arrive to protect the scene before our tow truck. When we arrive, we recover the vehicle through the tunnel to the nearest exit point for loading.

Prevention — Wellington Tunnel Warning

If your vehicle has any warning lights, unusual sounds, or performance issues before approaching a Wellington tunnel — pull over and call for assistance before entering. The Terrace Tunnel has pullover options on the SH1 approach from the north. The Mt Victoria Tunnel has limited pre-entry options — best to pull over well before Basin Reserve if your vehicle shows any concerns.