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Kia ora and welcome to the latest update on Te Ahu a Turanga: Manawatū Tararua Highway project, the proposed new route to connect the Manawatū, Tararua District, Hawke’s Bay and northern Wairarapa, to replace the closed State Highway 3 Manawatū Gorge route.

This newsletter is also available in te reo here.

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Works progress

You may have noticed an increase in activity around the Manawatū Gorge. We've carried out ground investigations at the carpark at the western entry to the gorge. This is the location of one of the project’s major structures - the bridge abutment for the Manawatū River crossing.

Gaining information on the exact ground composition is vital to optimise the engineering design.

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The first meeting of Te Ahu a Turanga Community Liaison Group

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Community Liaison Group meetings

The Community Liaison Group recently held their first two group meetings. Consisting of representatives from local community groups and organisations, the group was set up to share information and provide input as our current concept designs move into detailed design.

Some of the areas they’re providing input for include:

  • landscaping design,
  • public facilities such as the western car park and recreational tracks,
  • ecological mitigation works (including offset, compensation, and replacement planting),
  • development of walking and cycling facilities (a shared use path),
  • enabling construction works,
  • construction works environmental management (particularly construction traffic) when we start work on the road next summer,
  • key project milestones,
  • and the development of rest areas/viewing points along the new route.

The community liaison group meet monthly. A working group consisting of community liaison members have also attended additional meetings to work with our designers to develop the shared user path.

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Notice of Requirement and consents

We're continuing to work with appellants to our Notice of Requirement for the transport corridor designation. A number of these appeals have been resolved, with others requiring further mediation which is scheduled for December 2019.

The detailed work to prepare for lodging regional consent applications for the main physical works is also continuing. These will be lodged early next year.

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A concept design of the eco-viaduct bridging over the wetlands

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Developing our design

Design activities are progressing along, running in parallel with the consenting process work. Over 30 designers are currently involved in this part of the project. Their work includes designing the road, bridges, ground engineering, stormwater management, shared use path, and cultural and environmental design elements (e.g. recreational facilities and landscaping). Detailed design will be completed by late 2020.

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Walk the highway

We're pleased to be working with Woodville School and Woodville Lions who are organising a fundraising event to walk the road alignment. The event will be held on 18 January 2020 (Wellington Anniversary weekend). Several thousand walkers are expected to attend, walking either the full alignment from west to east, or just the eastern section.

This is an excellent and unique opportunity to view the very space where the new highway is being built. Tickets are available from info@tararua.com or 0800 827278

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Cambridge Ave roundabout – one of the recently-completed improvements in Ashhurst

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Ashhurst traffic mitigation

The Ashhurst traffic mitigation project team have been making the most of the wet winter months by doing planning and design work. With warmer weather on the way they are getting started on the next package of construction work in Ashhurst.

Our contractors recently started work on a new footpath along Salisbury Street. This will extend to widen the existing footpath on the eastern side of Salisbury Street in 2020.

In January, work will start in the town centre. The team plan to install a raised intersection and three raised platforms. These will be made from precast ramps and will act like large speed bumps, encouraging drivers to slow down as they travel along Cambridge Avenue. They will make it safer for people to cross the road and encourage drivers to stop for a break and enjoy the Ashhurst town centre.

We are also planning to construct traffic islands along Salisbury Street and narrow the intersections at Bamfield Street, Lincoln Street and Worcester Street in early 2020.  These types of changes are known for slowing traffic, minimising noise and reducing crashes as they help create a sense of place.

While this construction work is underway, the project team will keep planning and designing other changes and update everyone as things progress.  Check out the latest construction photos and find out more: www.nzta.govt.nz/ashhurst

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Info sessions early in 2020

We're looking forward to sharing the latest updates and design work with you at our next series of project information sessions around the region. These are now set to take place early in the new year. Keep an eye out for dates and details in the next project update.

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Road works

Work is continuing with the shoulder widening on Pahīatua Track which will create a cycle lane. This work is scheduled to continue into March 2020.

We post upcoming road works on our NZ Transport Agency - Central North Island Facebook page each Friday. You can follow there to find out what’s planned in the region for the week ahead.

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More information

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For more information on the SH3 Manawatū Gorge replacement route, contact us at teahuaturanga@nzta.govt.nz

Visit our website www.nzta.govt.nz/teahuaturanga

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