Ōtaki to north of Levin project update – May 2021

We’re working to build a new highway for regional and through traffic by the end of the decade, as part of our programme to make travel from Ōtaki to north of Levin safer and more resilient and increase transport choices for the area’s growing population.

April was a busy month for the programme, with work progressing on all safety improvement projects in the area. Site investigations are continuing throughout the new highway corridor as we refine the draft alignment, and community group meetings are in full swing.

Design for the Queen Street/SH57 roundabout which is due to start construction this week.

SH57 safety improvements construction set to begin

Construction on the State Highway 57 safety improvements is set to begin this week.

We can now let you know about the timings of the construction of the roundabout at the Queen Street/SH57 intersection, the painted wide centrelines and stretches of side barrier between SH1 and Heatherlea East Road.

You may have started seeing people on the site of the Queen Street/SH57 roundabout from last week, while construction and preparation work starts this week. This work includes removing existing streetlights and power poles, preparing drainage and the construction of temporary roads.

A temporary road will remain throughout the construction of the roundabout, to the west of the current intersection to accommodate traffic. The eastern connection to Queen Street will be diverted via another temporary road north of the current intersection while a connection will be retained for pedestrians and cyclists through the site.

The installation of the wide centrelines and side barriers on SH57 will begin at the SH1 intersection to the corner of Arapaepae Road in early July. The work will be undertaken in sections from there to the Heatherlea East Road intersection.

Waka Kotahi contractors will be in touch with adjacent property owners about any potential impacts on their access while this work is completed.

Temporary speed limits will be in place during the construction of these works.

A rare baby ornate skink pokes its head out from Cameron Thorp’s hand. Cameron is a Field Ecologist (Herpetology) and is authorised under the Wildlife Act to handle and work with these special and delicate creatures.

Rare skink found in Horowhenua

Site investigations are progressing as we continue to refine the alignment of the new highway. This work helps us understand the corridor area and guides ongoing design work to avoid or manage potential impacts. During the recent lizards survey, Wildlands Consultants Principal Ecologist Trent Bell discovered ornate skinks in the area.

The above image is of an ornate skink only a few weeks old. At the same location, a mature skink was also found (below).

Ornate skinks are endemic to New Zealand and are a threatened species in gradual decline. They were once widespread through much of the North Island and can be identified by the markings around their face with a white or yellow ‘teardrop’ edged with black below each eye.

If the route is unable to avoid skink habitat then we will search, salvage and relocate them to suitable close by habitats. This process would take some time, is controlled by the Department of Conservation and can only be undertaken by authorised personnel, such as Trent Bell. This process is relatively common and has been used successfully on a number of infrastructure projects. 

We would like to extend our thanks to all property owners who have allowed access to their land and properties to complete surveys such as this one. We appreciate the support for this important work.

Please note all native lizards are protected under the Wildlife Act, and should not be captured, collected or deliberately disturbed without a permit issued by the Department of Conservation.

A number of other surveys have been completed in the area, and more still are yet to begin. Our bats, archaeological and hertiage surveys are now all complete, while geotechnical, water and ecology (including lizards, birds and invertebrates) surveys have been underway since March and are ongoing.

Some attended measurements have been performed in the noise survey and will be ongoing over the new few months. Site access arrangements are continuing for longer-term measurements.

Other ongoing surveys include threatened flora, soil moisture tests, arborist and hydrogelogy.

Manakau residents at an Ō2NL Community Group meeting on Wednesday 14 April 2021.

Community group meetings underway

A new round of Ō2NL Community Group meetings have kicked off this year with a lot of new faces, thanks to the interest shown by the community from our invitation in a recent newsletter to join the groups.

At April’s sessions, residents discussed the new highway’s 24km walking and cycling path and local road connections. Local knowledge is crucial to ensuring these elements of the new highway serve your communities effectively.

Local Ō2NL Community Groups are a good way to stay involved with discussions about the Ō2NL programme. If you are interested in joining your local group, please email O2NL@nzta.govt.nz.

The next community group meetings are currently scheduled for end of June, August and October.

NZ Upgrade Programme baseline exercise

You may have heard something about the NZ Upgrade Programme baseline exercise.

Infrastructure programmes like NZ Upgrade Programme, which are large and complex and have a number of interdependencies, typically have cost challenges.

When the NZ Upgrade Programme was initiated some projects were still in their early stages of development, with detailed project information still being established.

Following significant project development work, Waka Kotahi has recently completed a baseline exercise to provide updated information and a stronger basis for decision-making to Ministers around the scope, cost and schedule of each project, including the new highway from Ōtaki to north of Levin.

This information has now been provided to the Ministers of Transport and Infrastructure following the completion of the baseline exercise, and Waka Kotahi is awaiting decisions from the Government.

Coming up next

SH57

The speed review for SH57 from the SH1 intersection to Shannon is moving to consultation soon, following our engagement last year.

SH1 from Ōtaki to south of Levin

Work is progressing on the potential safety improvements south of Levin, including design options for stretches of median barrier, wide centrelines and a roundabout at the SH1/SH57 interesection. 

Public consultation on the project, as well as on speeds in the area, is expected in the coming weeks.

SH1 from Levin to Manawatū River

Community meetings have been continuing as part of our planning for safety improvements on the SH1 north of Levin. 

We expect community engagement and the scope of the project to be announced later this year.

Coming up next on the new highway

More information

Visit our website www.nzta.govt.nz/o2nl to find out about our work in the corridor or check out:

• www.nzta.govt.nz/o2nl-proposed-new-highway for information on the new highway, or
• www.nzta.govt.nz/o2nl-SH57-safety-improvements to find out more about the proposed safety improvements for SH57, or
• www.nzta.govt.nz/o2nl-safer-roads-and-roadsides to find out more about the work to make our existing roads and roadsides safer.

Our email newsletters will let you know when there is new information on our website.

Do you know people who want to know more? They can subscribe here.

For more information on the Ōtaki to north of Levin programme, contact us at O2NL@nzta.govt.nz or call 0508 625 4636.