Ōtaki to north of Levin update – December 2023

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

In this edition of the newsletter, we look back at some of our activities and milestones over the last 12 months – including korero with nearly 500 locals - and provide an update on the Ōtaki to Ohau safety improvements project.

Clockwise from top left: The Ō2NL team speaking with local rangatahi at this year's Future Pathways Expo, presenting to local businesses about future opportunities on the project, and at one of our project office open days.

Ō2NL – 2023 in review

As we come towards the end of 2023, we want to reflect on some of the project progress and key milestones that have been reached over the last 12 months:

• Throughout 2023, the project team have been working through the RMA approvals process. We have and continue to work alongside the regional and district Councils and the community during this process. In October we attended the Ō2NL Environment Court hearing, where the Court heard from the project team, technical specialists and interested parties. We expect to hear the Court’s decision in early 2024.
   
• We have continued the process of working with landowners and acquiring the land required for the project. Our project team would like to thank the landowners for their approach to this process, and recognise the impacts this has on their lives.
   
• The procurement process is well underway to select our project alliance partners. After more than a year of industry engagement and releasing a Request for Proposal (RFP) in October, we expect to name the two preferred alliance proponents before Christmas.
   
• We have made progress seeing our Legacy Outcomes come to life. Following partner engagement with Māori and iwi businesses, the project team briefed local businesses on upcoming opportunities in October. We invited them to complete our local market survey, which will help shape procurement of sub-contractors and sub-consultants. We also attended the local Future Pathways Expo, to talk with rangatahi (youth) about the kinds of careers that they would have in infrastructure projects like Ō2NL.
   
• We released a series of Ō2NL project videos, that highlight how important the new highway will be to the community and how we work in partnership.
   
• Community input and knowledge has been instrumental in helping to shape the Ōtaki to north of Levin project. The team love to speak with the community about the new highway and the other projects happening in the region.
  • We started the year with the Ō2NL speaker event at Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, where we saw over 130 members of the community come along to hear from project partners and technical specialists.
     
  • Over the year we have held nine project office open days, and seven local drop-in sessions across Ōtaki, Manakau, Levin and Foxton, and spoken to over 360 attendees though these sessions.
     
• To make the existing State Highway 1 safer, we started construction on the Ōtaki to Ohau safety improvements starting in March this year, and the detailed design for Levin to Foxton safety improvements was completed.
   
• In partnership with HDC, we developed plans for a new roundabout at Tararua Road and SH57 that will immediately improve safety at this busy intersection and will also provide a future connection to the new Ōtaki to north of Levin highway and the Tara-Ika growth area. We are currently working through both consenting and procurement for this project and construction is planned for early in 2024.

2024 is shaping up to be a busy year too, as work on the new highway and shared use path, and on making the existing State Highway safer continues.

New flexible median barrier on SH1 between Ōtaki and Ohau

SH1 Ōtaki to Ohau safety improvement project

While we work to build the new highway we’re making the existing State Highway 1 safer for everyone who uses the road.

Earlier this year, we began construction on the Ōtaki to Ohau safety improvements. This work includes sections of side and median barriers, painted wide centrelines and three turnaround bays.

Our contractors are on track to largely complete the first phase of works between Ōtaki and Manakau by Christmas. This includes median barrier and the three turnaround bays at the bottom of Forest Lakes Hill, Pukehou Rail Overbridge and Gleeson Road.

The team are now working hard to complete sections of work between Manakau and Ohau before the holiday break.  Up until 22 December, you’ll see construction crews onsite near Waikawa Beach Road and Whakahoro Road working to make the road safer before the holidays.

Construction crews will finish up work for the year on 22 December to avoid further disruption during the busy holiday traffic. The team will be back onsite from 8 January 2024 and expect this work will be complete this summer.

December and February Ō2NL project office open days

Please join us next week for our last project office open day for 2023:

• Wednesday 13 December from 1pm – 5pm
  171 Oxford Street, Levin

Our team will be available to answer your questions about the new highway, walking and cycling path and the state highway safety improvement projects in your area. 

Our first project office open day for 2024 will be held:

• Thursday 22 February from 12noon – 6pm.

Our events give us a chance to meet with you in person and answer any questions you may have. If you'd like to chat with the team 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 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-safe-speeds, to find out more about speed, 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.