Express CONNECT

1 December 2022

The team has been producing EMOGPA (top layer of asphalt) at rates that have exceeded our programme average which shows how hard they’re working to make this road operational for holiday travellers.

I can assure you we’re doing everything we can to achieve a full opening, while also ensuring the finished road meets all the quality and safety standards required. A partial opening would be the least favourable option for the team due to the complexities around returning to the road to complete any works in the New Year - which is still the holiday season for many motorists.

This month we’ve made great progress with signage and have installed more than 500 signs which is a significant undertaking.

From a cultural perspective, the community should be very proud of what it’s achieved to signify the Ōtaki township with one of the gateway sculptures erected and destination signs in place. There is more on this further down.

A common question we receive is ‘when will the shared path be open’? In simple terms, the expressway has to open before the shared path can open. This is due to the intersections between the old state highway and the new shared path, which for safety reasons requires traffic to move off the existing SH1 onto the new expressway, so a signalised pedestrian crossing can be installed.

Last month I said I hoped you were enjoying the better weather as we were and that, fingers crossed, it would continue. This seems unbelievable now with the recent wet weather we’ve had. One thing we do know is that change is constant - so let’s hope the weather gods swing back in our favour as we head towards Christmas.

For further information on the project please visit our information centre (which has updated photos and brochures), check out our website www.nzta.govt.nz/pp2o, call us on 0800 PP2O INFO or email pp2o@nzta.govt.nz

Ngā mihi
Chris Hunt, Project Director

Progress of remaining works

As of Monday 28 November:

• 68.6% of asphalt surfacing (EMOGPA) has been laid on the expressway and local road connections with around 8,500t remaining – we’re currently investigating whether all of this is needed to enable opening or whether some can wait until after opening
• all asphalt base layers are now complete for the project
• installation of safety barriers is about 90% complete (this equals about 33.75kms) - barriers are still required at the northern and southern connections, in addition to tensioning of the wire rope barriers in some sections
• application of line marking to lanes and road shoulders is approximately 30% finished - completion of this activity involves only a few days’ work and promptly follows completion of the asphalt surfacing mentioned above
• about 560 signs have now been installed.

Southern gateway sculpture installed

The gateway sculpture at the southern end of the expressway on Old Hautere Road is now in place!

Delivered to the site on Monday morning, the three stems of the sculpture were lifted into position by crane before being blessed by Nga Hapu o Ōtaki.

Once the stems were standing in their scaffolding support frame, the concrete foundations were poured and we expect the sculpture to be standing on its own by mid-December. The scaffolding will then be removed and taken to the northern end of the expressway where the second sculpture will be put in place near the Ōtaki Main Road underpass by the northbound expressway on-ramp.

The installation of bench seating and information signs next to the sculptures, as well as landscaping around them are expected to be completed by the end of January 2023. Further planting in the area will take place next autumn.

The sculptures are clearly visible to motorists and highlight the entrance points to Ōtaki, welcoming visitors to the township.

More than 500 signs installed

Signage is a huge part of a project like this and extremely important to ensure motorists find their way and get to where they need to be safely. As mentioned further up, about 560 signs have now been installed by the project team including road signs, speed signs, warning signs and a variety of destination signs.

To ensure the signage foundations meet Waka Kotahi specifications, the structures are designed to meet wind loading and appropriate strength which is a science in itself and an extensive process.

Keeping it local, the team at ‘Approach Signs’ in Paraparaumu worked hard to make the signs look fabulous and deliver them to us in time for installation.

Up close it’s amazing how big the signs actually are. Just about all of them are made of metal alloy, which provides weather resistance and strength. A special reflective laminate is applied over the top of the alloy for extra protection.

How to use the expressway

While the opening date for the expressway is yet to be announced, we thought it would be a good idea to get you familiarised with how to get on and off the new road.

GETTING ONTO THE EXPRESSWAY

Heading north:

• If you’re already on the Mackays to Peka Peka section of the expressway (which runs between the northern end of the Transmission Gully motorway to Peka Peka) further south, you’ll seamlessly drive onto the PP2Ō section at Peka Peka.
• If you’re heading north on the old State Highway 1 (SH1) or you’re in Ōtaki township, access is via the northbound on-ramp at Peka Peka or the northern on-ramp just north of the Mill Road roundabout (by the BP service station).

Heading south:

• If you’re on SH1 north of Ōtaki, you’ll seamlessly drive onto the expressway.
• If you’re in Ōtaki township, access is via the southbound on-ramp at the Ōtaki Gorge Road roundabout.

GETTING OFF THE EXPRESSWAY

Heading north:

• If you’re heading north to Ōtaki, exit via the northbound off-ramp at Ōtaki Gorge Road (if you miss this exit, there’s a safe turnaround area north of Taylor’s Road just past the northern end of the expressway – although, this is not suitable for large, heavy vehicles such as truck/trailer units).
• If you’re heading north to Te Horo, you’ll need to exit the Mackays to Peka Peka section of the expressway at Te Moana Rd, Waikanae Beach – then drive through Waikanae and north along what will become the old SH1. Or, you could exit the PP2Ō expressway via the northern off-ramp at Ōtaki Gorge Road, then head south along the old SH1.

Heading south:

• If you’re heading south to Ōtaki, exit via the southbound off-ramp just north of Ōtaki township (if you miss this exit point, you’ll need to go all the way down to Peka Peka to turn around).
• If you’re heading south to Te Horo, exit at Ōtaki as above. Alternatively, you could exit the expressway via the southern off-ramp at Peka Peka and head north along what will become the old SH1.

You can see the on/off ramps on our map, but we're developing separate graphics for the northern ramps and the southern ones and will share these with you in our next newsletter.

Updated expressway map now available

If you're keen to see the route of the expressway and where the on/off ramps are located, pick up a brochure – which contains a map – from our information centre.

The information centre is located at 216 Main Highway Ōtaki and is open 9-5pm Monday – Friday, Saturday 9am-4pm and Sunday 10am-4pm.

The map can also be viewed/downloaded as a larger image here:

PP2Ō Expressway map

Community meetings

We continue to host our community group meetings bi-monthly with good attendance.

Our next meetings are scheduled as follows:

• Community Liaison Group – 7pm, Monday 5 December, Ōtaki College (members only).
• Combined Northern and Southern Neighbourhood Group Christmas Meeting – 7pm, Monday 12 December, Ōtaki College Staff Room. Please RSVP to pp2o@nzta.govt.nz by 5pm, Wednesday 7 December.

Upcoming construction milestones: Northern area

• Safety barrier works at northern tie-in.
• Laying of EMOGPA on the main alignment followed by line marking and barrier tensioning.
• Stone Mastic Asphalt surfacing to Ōtaki Main North Road (current SH1) followed by line marking.

Central area

• Chipsealing to Winiata Link Road.
• Stone Mastic Asphalt surfacing to Ōtaki Gorge Road.
• Completion of the laying of EMOGPA to the main alignment followed by line marking and barrier tensioning.

Southern area

• Asphalt and barrier works progressing at the southern tie-in with the M2PP expressway, intermittently through December 2022.

PP2Ō project team’s monthly get-together

Once a month we get together early in the morning for a project update focusing on Health & Safety, Quality and the Environment, as well as the chance to recognise the contribution of individuals and teams in delivering the project.

This month we profiled all the work provided by various organisations and available to men in the community by way of a great resource called ‘The Blokes Book’(a copy was given to all attendees). We also celebrated our own team – aptly called PP2Mo – raising funds for Movember. Team members were Shane Soulsby, Sam Christianson and Darryl Nell. 

You can get a pdf copy of ’The Blokes Book’ here.

More information

For more information on the Peka Peka to Ōtaki Expressway, contact us at 0800 7726 4636 or email pp2o@nzta.govt.nz

Visit our website www.nzta.govt.nz/pp2o