Project update

18 December 2024

Kia ora and welcome to the latest newsletter on Te Ahu a Turanga: Manawatū Tararua Highway – the 11.5km route to reconnect the Manawatū, Tararua District, Hawke’s Bay and northern Wairarapa, replacing the closed State Highway 3 Manawatū Gorge route.

Wire barriers being installed on Fill 9 at the western end of Te Ahu a Turanga.

Major construction milestones reached in 2024

The end of another productive year of construction on Te Ahu a Turanga: Manawatū Tararua Highway presents an excellent opportunity to reflect on the many important milestones reached in 2024.

With bulk earthworks finishing at the start of the year, the focus for most of 2024 was on construction of the road surface (pavements), installation of drainage and completing the major structures.  

In addition, the project has also seen a lot of progress in the utilities, ecology, quality and environmental spaces.  

The strong progress to date has put the project in a good position to have the road completed in mid-2025. 

Below are some of the key milestones achieved this year:

Pavments, drainage and utitilies

• 75 per cent of structural asphalt laid.
• Stone mastic asphalt work is underway with more than 30 per cent completed. This is the final pavement layer, which sits on top of the structural asphalt. 
• The majority of kerb and channel work was competed, with just a small amount left at the roundabouts.
• All subgrade pavements layers are completed (this is the layer below the structural asphalt).
• Variable Messaging Signs are installed at each end of the road. These will provide weather condition updates to road users.
• Streetlights have been installed at each end of road.
• Installation of wire rope barriers started in Fill 9 (western end of highway).
• Asphalt plant installed on site. 
• 8.7km of 9.3km of network drainage installed.

Structures

• Eco-Viaduct bridge deck completed.
• Parahaki Bridge bridge deck completed.
• All minor structures (three underpasses and Mangamanaia Bridge) are completed.
• All six structures are now undergoing finishing works including barrier installation, drainage, balustrades and asphalting.

Landscaping (planting, pest control, fencing)

• 448,724 native plants planted in 2024 landscaping season. More than 1.5 million have been planted in total.
• About 11km of fencing completed.
• Trapping and baiting of pest animals near the project has continued.

Asphalt being placed at the start of Cut 28 at the eastern side of Te Ahu a Turanga.

No toll for Te Ahu a Turanga: Manawatū Tararua Highway

The Minister of Transport and Cabinet have announced their decision not to progress with tolling Te Ahu a Turanga: Manawatū Tararua Highway.

Thank you to everyone who submitted as part of the consultation process between September and October.

Public consultation is a valued part of the decision-making process, and the insights gained through submissions were considered in the final decision. 

The Minister's full announcement can be viewed here

A summary of findings from the consultation on Te Ahu a Turanga can be viewed here.

Great progress continues to be made on the 300-metre-long Parahaki Bridge.

Bridge across Manawatū River structurally complete

A major bridge that will allow road users access across the Manawatū River while travelling on Te Ahu a Turanga has been completed.

The completion of the concrete deck on the 300-metre-long Parahaki Bridge means both banks of the river are now connected.

The balanced cantilever bridge is now considered ‘structurally complete’ from an engineering perspective, although crews will be continuing to work on it, including the installation of barriers, a viewing deck, drainage and the laying of asphalt.

These are expected to be completed early in the new year.

Piling was complete by mid-2022 and by December that year the first pier was finished.

The balanced cantilever method involves constructing the bridge deck in segments, out from the piers.

The concrete segments are poured in situ (in place), rather than being precast and then lifted into position, because the segments would be too heavy to be lifted by crane.

Construction of the bridge deck began in September 2023 with the installation of the first form traveller, a pair of streel frames that support the concrete pours. It took the team 13 months to construct all 54 bridge deck segments.

Key facts about Parahaki Bridge

• 300 metres long
• 30 metres wide
• 3 piers
• 54 bridge deck segments
• Up to 110 people on site at any one time
• 300,000 mahi hours
• 17,000 cubic metres of concrete used.

To find out more about the project or to view the latest flyover, head to: www.nzta.govt.nz/projects/te-ahu-a-turanga/

Thank you for your support

It's been another busy year for the team working on Te Ahu a Turanga, and we appreciate your ongoing support and interest in the project.

On behalf of the project team, I hope you all have a safe and enjoyable holiday season with your whānau and friends. 

We will look forward to hearing from you in early 2025, as we move into the exciting final stages of the project.

Noho ora mai

Jonathon Howe
Communications and Stakeholder Engagement Manager
Te Ahu a Turanga: Manawatū Tararua Highway Alliance 

More information

For more information on the Te Ahu a Turanga: Manawatū Tararua Highway, please use one or more of the following methods:

• Website: www.nzta.govt.nz/teahuaturanga
• Facebook: facebook.com/nztacni
• X (formerly Twitter): twitter.com/WakaKotahiCNI
• Email: teahuaturanga@nzta.govt.nz
• Phone: 0800 740 560