Ōtaki to north of Levin project update – March 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.

Since our last project update, we have been in touch with property owners in the 300m preferred corridor to let them know we have adjusted the draft alignment of the new highway in a number of areas. We are currently working with the ‘refined draft preferred alignment’ which brings us a step closer to finalising the location of the new road.

The refined draft preferred alignment of the new highway - the blue circles show areas of adjustment.

New highway refined draft preferred alignment announced

In the six months since we released the draft preferred alignment, we have been undertaking technical investigations to inform refinements to the draft preferred alignment. Property owner, iwi, stakeholder and community feedback has also helped us make adjustments in a number of areas.

Waka Kotahi is now ready to announce the ‘refined draft preferred alignment’ of the new highway which represents the optimal location of the new road, based on our work to-date.

We’ve been in touch with potentially affected property owners about the refined draft preferred alignment and what impact any changes may have on their property.

By late this year, the current detailed business case phase will be completed and the refined alignment, with any further adjustmnets, will be considered for adoption by the Waka Kotahi Board.

The next stage of design includes factors such as road elevation and key structures, and understanding environmental and social effects such as possible noise or visual impacts, and considering how they these can be avoided, minimised or mitigated.

The preferred alignment will be used as a basis to prepare the road designation Notice of Requirement and resource consent applications in 2022. At this time, further adjustments to the alignment are likely to be necessary.

More information about the ‘refined draft preferred alignment’, including a map of the corridor, can be found on the Ō2NL maps page.

Ō2NL Engagement Report now available

Last year we let you know that the draft Ō2NL Engagement Report was available to view on our website. We have now published the finalised report, which you can view here.

The final report includes project team responses to queries raised during the new highway engagement period in August/September last year.

About 800 people attended our drop-in events about the draft preferred alignment of the new highway last year. We collected feedback from 269 comments on our interactive Social Pinpoint map, 26 completed survey forms and 68 emails.

We will be getting in touch with submitters individually in the coming weeks.

Coming up next

SH57

Tenders for the SH57 safety improvement contract have closed, and we expect to announce the timeline for the project shortly.

The speed review for the road is also moving to consultation soon, following our engagement last year.

SH1 from Ōtaki to south of Levin

Work is progressing on the planned safety improvements south of Levin, including stretches of median barrier, wide centrelines and a roundabout at the SH1/SH57 intersection.

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

SH1 from Levin to Manawatū River

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

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

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.