Peka Peka to Ōtaki corridor improvements

Connecting communities

29 August 2025

Corridor improvements work reaches mid-point

We’re transforming the old state highway into a local road. This involves changing the road from one that prioritises through traffic into a road which is more suitable for pedestrians and local traffic.

We’re around the mid-point of the Peka Peka to Ōtaki corridor improvement construction, and we’ve made a lot of great progress. While there’s still plenty of work to go, you would have seen the new footpaths, kerbs, channels, and vehicle crossings being constructed at both the northern and southern ends of the Ōtaki business precinct.

Over the coming days we'll be completing footpath works around the Ōtaki Market carpark, and close out topsoiling of the site before moving to the southern side of Waerenga Road. We'll also continuing prepartion for a kerb and channel pour at the northern end, before replacing the footpath in front of the bus stop. And at the Riverbank Road site, work is focussed on finishing the remaining section of footpaths before we move onto traffic island works.

We’ll be completing daytime works in the next couple of months and we’re also aiming to get started on the less disruptive evening works in September.

Construction shutdown over holiday season

Looking ahead to the upcoming holiday season, construction will shut down in December and January. This means there won’t be any non-essential construction work going on through Ōtaki during the busy shopping period.

* Timeframes are dependent on various factors such as weather and are subject to change.

Due to the nature of the work, including upgrading footpaths, kerbs, gutters, vehicle crossings, and the road surface, there will be some short-term disruption for the community. However, we’re doing as much as we can to minimise the impact of these works.

Some of this work will require traffic management to help create safety areas to keep workers and the public safe while work is underway. While this traffic management may impact a small number of parking spaces on Main Highway during works, there’s usually plenty of other available parking nearby.

If you’re struggling to find somewhere to park on the old State Highway, don’t forget about the parking area by Ōtaki Railway Station. There are usually plenty of free parking spaces available and it’s only a short (70-100 metre) walk from the centre of town.