Ōtaki to north of Levin project update – August 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.

The move to COVID-19 Alert Level 4 has unfortunately paused a number of Waka Kotahi projects which are in construction, including the construction of the new roundabout on SH57. However, our team are working from home to keep progressing other parts of the Ō2NL programme, including launching the SH57 speed review consultation.

New speeds are being proposed for SH57 between SH1 and Shannon. 80km/h is the proposed speed limit from the SH1 intersection to the current Shannon 100/70km/h change.

State Highway 57 speed review consultation open

In mid-2020, we sought feedback from the community on the current speed limits on SH57 between the SH1 intersection and Shannon. Feedback from this engagement, together with our technical assessment were then used to help us recommend what speed limits are best for the road. We are now ready to formally consult with you on the proposed change in speed limits.

Changing a speed limit is a legal process and formal consultation is the next step after engagement. We consider all submissions from the public and stakeholders during this stage before we make a final decision on any speed limit change. Once a decision is made, we will publish it on our website and in our project update newsletter.

To learn more about the speed review process, see this webpage.

Between 2015 and December 2020, there were 23 serious crashes on SH57 resulting in seven people killed and 24 people seriously injured.

Most crashes are caused by several factors, however speed is the factor most likely to determine whether anyone is killed, injured or walks away unharmed. Setting safer speed limits is one way of keeping people safe on the roads. But we also have construction underway on the safety improvements that will make SH57 safer, including the roundabout at the SH57/Queen St intersection. These will work together with the proposed change in speed to improve safety in the area.

Passing lanes
North of Heatherlea East Road there are currently two passing lanes, one for northbound and one for southbound traffic. If the speed on the road is changed to the proposed 80km/h, these passing lanes will be converted to slow vehicle lanes.

Slow vehicle lanes  give slower vehicles the opportunity to pull to the left-hand side of the road, while traffic travelling at the speed limit will stay in the right-hand lane. If this change goes ahead, ‘Slow vehicles keep left’ signs will be installed and the ‘Keep left unless passing’ signs will be removed.

Find out more about the proposed speed changes on our website and place your submission online with our Survey Monkey.

Submissions close on 27 September 2021.
To find our more please visit nzta.govt.nz/sh57-speed or email O2NL@nzta.govt.nz.

SH57 speed limit proposals

Members of the public look over plans at the SH1 Ōtaki to Levin safety improvements drop-in session at Ohau Hall on 20 July 2021.

SH1 Ōtaki to Levin feedback

In July, we hosted a series of drop-in information sessions on the proposed SH1 Ōtaki to Levin safety improvements. These improvements will make the corridor safer while work progresses to deliver the new Ōtaki to north of Levin highway within the next decade.

About 250 locals attended these events, which were an opportunity to hear more about the proposed safety improvements and provide feedback. We also hosted small neighbourhood events for residents and property owners directly affected by proposed median barriers. Thank you to everyone who came along to these sessions and spoke with the team.

We gathered feedback through post-it notes at our drop-in and neighbourhood sessions, survey forms, emails and through comments on our Social Pinpoint. While feedback is now closed, you can see what other people said by checking out our interactive map.

During the four weeks engagement was open, we received 452 comments on the Social Pinpoint and post-it notes at events, 29 survey responses and 16 emails. This is a great result and we appreciate everyone who took the time to provide their thoughts.

Feedback closed on 11 August and we are continuing to analyse the results. Input from the community will help refine the proposed designs and determine whether a speed review will progress.

Construction is underway on the new roundabout on the SH57/Queen Street intersection. The above picture shows the approximate size of the roundabout when looking west towards Levin, the tyre marks show where the traffic lane will be.

SH57 roundabout construction

In accordance with Government guidance, construction on SH57 is not seen as an essential service and has been paused while New Zealand is at Covid-19 Alert Level 4.

Before pausing our work, we made sure the site was safe, and we will continue to manage and monitor environmental and traffic management plans to protect each work-site while restrictions are in place.

As soon as construction can begin again at the SH57 / Queen Street roundabout, we’ll continue our preparations to widen Kimberley Road for wide centrelines and stretches of side barriers.  We’ll have more updates on that closer to the time, including information on detour options while work is underway.

Outdoor air quality monitor installed as part of the new highway investigations. Photo: David Irvine.

New Highway investigations

Among the many types of surveys undertaken for the new highway are those for air monitoring. Our air monitoring equipment has been the subject of a couple of recent queries to the project team.

This curious-looking equipment was installed on Waka Kotahi-owned land in Manakau earlier this month. It helps us understand more about the environment where the new highway will be situated, including potential effects of the project, to help guide our design.

Community Groups

The next round of Ō2NL Community Group meetings are due in the week of Monday 6 September with an outline of the project’s approach on air and water quality, as well as an update on our ecological work.

Under current Covid-19 alert levels we plan to hold these meetings online using Zoom.  If you’re interested to join your local Ō2NL Community Group, please email us on o2nl@nzta.govt.nz and we’ll let you know the details.

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.