Major earthworks are underway - the first construction steps to creating the 11.5km Te Ahu a Turanga: Manawatū Tararua Highway and Shared Use Path.

Construction begins!

It’s been a busy start to the year, with our first construction season now in full swing.

We've started major earthworks at the western end of the highway alignment and continued progress on site access at both the eastern and western ends of the project area.

We're also creating access facilities in readiness for construction of the project’s two 300-metre bridges. 

At the western end, the public toilets from the old Manawatū gorge carpark have been installed in the temporary carpark, where they will remain for the duration of the project.

Cook Road
If you’ve driven over the Saddle Road recently you may have noticed roadworks crews at the Cook Road intersection. Cook Road is one of the main access points to the highway construction area and is being upgraded as part of the project.

Work on Cook Road will include new passing bays as well as a widening at the intersection of Cook Road and Saddle Road, to help with increased traffic volumes during construction.

The passing lane on Saddle Road near the Cook Road intersection will be closed permanently in late February and Cook Road will become resident-only access until the highway is completed in December 2024.

Hope Road
On the eastern side of the alignment, the main access point is at Hope Road, Woodville. Work here will include shoulder widening, new line-marking at the intersection with Woodlands Road, and reconfiguration of the Hope Road 90° bend to create a give way intersection.

These safety improvements will help separate construction traffic from other road users during highway construction and give larger vehicles room to turn safely. This work is expected to start in March.

The rare Meterana grandiosa in its caterpillar stage.

Rare moth population relocated

Our ecology team made an exciting discovery late last year – a population of rare native moth, Meterana grandiosa, in a stand of vegetation on the highway alignment.

The moths were moved in their caterpillar stage as they had not yet dug themselves into the ground to pupate – so our ecologists had only a short window of time in which to safely relocate the caterpillars out of the construction path.

The caterpillars were carefully resettled 500m away on an existing area of divaricating shrublands, including Olearia virgata and Olearia solandrii – the same species they were found on – providing the population with plenty of vegetation. 

Over the course of the project about two million native plants and shrubs will be planted across 46 hectares; 48 hectares of existing forest will be protected; 300 hectares of already protected forest reserve will have pest control measures installed; and 28kms of streams will be rehabilitated.

You can view a short video about this exciting discovery and relocation on the Te Ahu a Turanga website.

Are you a business interested in working on the new highway project? Come and see us on the 22nd or 24th of February!

Helping local businesses bid for work on new highway

Businesses in Manawatū and Tararua are invited to two procurement information sessions this month, to help put them in a strong position to bid for work on the Te Ahu a Turanga: Manawatū Tararua Highway project.

Work packs will vary depending on the needs of the project at different times but are expected to include things like general site works, concrete and aggregate path construction, pavement construction, sign and barrier installation, road marking, retaining walls, street lighting, steel fabrication, tree and vegetation clearance, planting, pest control, drainage, carpentry and traffic management. 

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency’s Lonnie Dalzell encourages businesses of all sizes to find out how the procurement process works so they’re well prepared when opportunities arise.

“We are committed to strengthening the local economy by building capability in the region’s small to medium enterprises.

"The procurement process is pretty simple but it might be different to what some businesses have experienced before. The best thing is to come along and see what’s on offer and how your business could benefit.”

The information sessions will be hosted by the Te Ahu a Turanga procurement team and are for any local business that would like to know more about upcoming opportunities, how to apply for contracts and to register their interest in providing goods or services to the project.

“You’ll learn about the project’s procurement process, see what our documentation looks like and find out how to prepare a successful proposal," adds Lonnie. "There’ll also be time for the procurement team to answer any questions.”

While further information evenings will be happening in the next couple of months, work packs are being finalised now, so businesses are encouraged to attend one of these sessions if possible.

Te Ahu a Turanga Procurement Sessions:

• Dannevirke 22 February, 5:15pm-7pm. Tararua REAP office, go to 16 Allardice St.

• Palmerston North 24 February, 5:15pm-7pm. TMI, 140–148 Maxwells Line, Awapuni.

Tea, coffee, and a light snack will be provided. To RSVP or find out more, email procurement@teahuaturanga.co.nz

Resurfacing on Saddle Road will require overnight closures on 16 dates during March and April.

Saddle Road night time closures

Though not part of the Te Ahu a Turanga project, please note the following planned closures on Saddle Road.

Three weeks (16 nights) of resurfacing work will be undertaken on Saddle Road in March and April.

The following are the scheduled overnight closure dates during which Saddle Road will be closed in both directions each night from 6pm, reopening at 6am.

• Sunday 14 March to Friday 19 March (six nights)
   
• Sunday 21 March to Friday 27 March (six nights)
   
•  Tuesday 6 April to Friday 9 April (four nights)

The full overnight closures provide a safer environment for workers, and will allow the road resurfacing and maintenance work to be completed with fewer daytime delays for road users. The detour route via the Pahiatua Track will remain available.

All roadworks are dependent on weather and other factors, and may be cancelled or postponed at late notice. Check the Waka Kotahi Central North Island Facebook page for updates.

We thank you for your patience and understanding while this work is carried out to make journeys over the Saddle Road smoother and safer.

More information

For more information, please use one of more of the following methods:

nzta.govt.nz/teahuaturanga

facebook.com/nztacni

twitter.com/wakakotahicni

0800 740 560

teahuaturanga@nzta.govt.nz