Ōtaki to north of Levin update

12 March 2025

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA), Muaūpoko Tribal Authority, local hapū of Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga and council partner Horowhenua District Council (HDC) are working together to create a positive legacy for the region while we build a new, safer, efficient, and more reliable State Highway 1 (SH1) from Ōtaki to north of Levin.

In this newsletter, we’d like to update you on works underway including the new site office and State Highway 57 (SH57)/Tararua Rd roundabout, our recent Ō2NL Community Group meetings, current speed consultations and our next project office open day.

Foundations taking shape for the new Ō2NL site office on Tararua Road (carpark in the foreground)

Out and about on site – works update

Work’s ramping up on Ō2NL site investigations and our site office build. Over the past month you will have seen more crews out and about working in the area. We’re busy drilling, taking samples, and conducting surveys to check the soil stability, composition, and water content. The insights we’re gathering from these tests are helping shape our overall programme, design and construction sequencing.

Work is also progressing well on the Ō2NL site office based at Tararua Road. Over the next month our prefabricated buildings will be delivered to site, and the office will start to take shape. We’ll also continue to install utilities and services within the site, and along Tararua Road.

This office will provide space for the team throughout construction and become the main space for the community to meet with the team. We expect it to be up and running around mid-year. Once open, we’ll vacate the current office on Oxford Street Levin.

We’ll continue to keep neighbours and residents updated on our work and appreciate everyone's patience as heavy machinery moves around.

A drone photo captures work underway on the SH57/Tararua Road roundabout site

SH57/Tararua Road roundabout – watermain tie-in up next

Good progress is being made on the SH57/Tararua Road roundabout project. Stage one has been underway since January this year, which includes construction of 3 legs of the intersection and installing watermain and other services.

NZTA and HDC are working in partnership to build the new roundabout, which will improve safety at this busy intersection and provide a future connection to the new highway and Tara-Ika growth area.

The next milestone for the project will be the tie-in of a new watermain. While the new watermain is being connected there will be lots of activity on site and additional traffic management to ensure crews can work as safely and quickly as possible. We’ll notify nearby residents ahead of time about the watermain tie-in works.

In the meantime, a reminder there is no access from SH57 to the western section of Tararua Road, and a detour is in place which directs vehicles heading north via Queen Street East, and those travelling south to State Highway 1 via Kimberley Road.

There is also a 30km/h temporary speed limit on SH57 near the site, and at times there will be stop/go traffic management to allow for the works to be completed during the day. Thanks for following the traffic management in place and the instructions of crews on site for the safety of everyone.

Reconnecting with our Ō2NL Community Groups

A big thank you to everyone who came out on slightly chillier Autumn evenings last week to attend our Ō2NL Community Group meetings in Manakau and Levin.

These meetings were a chance for community members to meet newer members of the project team, including some of our alliance partners. We also provided an update on recent project milestones, and looked ahead to what people can expect in the coming months, as we develop the design.

As we move towards construction, the focus of these groups will include topics such as construction sequencing, access routes, how we keep you informed, and impacts specific to each community.

We’re planning to meet again with these groups around mid-year. If you’re interested in joining our community groups, please contact us by email at O2NL@nzta.govt.nz and we’ll add you to the invitation list.

Reminder: speed consultation closes tomorrow

A reminder that NZTA is consulting with the community to see if there is public support to retain the lower speed limits on state highways classed as interregional connectors in your area. Provide your feedback before consultation closes this Thursday, 13 March.

There are 3 areas of road between Ōtaki and north of Levin that are now being consulted on:

• SH57 & SH1 to Heatherlea East Road
• SH1 Ohau to Manakau
• SH1 Manakau to Pukehou Overbridge.

Have your say by visiting www.nzta.govt.nz/speed-consultation.

Project office open day – Tuesday 25 March

We’re holding our next project office open day on:

• Tuesday 25 March, 1pm – 5pm.

Join us at 171 Oxford Street, Levin to speak with the team about the new highway and other projects in your area. This is a chance to meet in person and answer any questions you have.

If you'd like to chat with us between events, you can email us at O2NL@nzta.govt.nz or phone 0508 625 4636.

More information

Visit our website www.nzta.govt.nz/o2nl to find out about the new highway and other projects happening in this corridor.

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