Mackays to Peka Peka corridor - click here to view larger map

Kia ora

It’s great to have our works along the Mackays to Peka Peka section of old State Highway 1 (SH1) wrapped up.

Now we’re at the end of this journey, I’d like to take the opportunity to thank you again for your input at the start of the project during the design phase, as well as your patience while we carried out the works. I know they caused disruption at times and there have been some frustrations along the way, especially delays due to bad weather and staff absenteeism relating to Covid-19. Hopefully, this has all been worth it with the results you can see as you drive through the area.

A huge thanks also to the project team and the crews who were out on the road putting in the hard yards, often in difficult conditions, to complete the works.

This is our last update – thank you for reading these and keeping informed about what’s been happening over the duration of the project.

Take care and stay safe.

Ngā mihi
Jacob Laird
Senior Project Manager, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency

Completion of M2PP corridor improvements

As mentioned in the introduction above, works on the old SH1 Mackays to Peka Peka revocation corridor are largely complete.

The contractors still have some things to repair on the route (this is usual for construction processes), but these are minor and shouldn’t impact road users.

“This has been one of the most complex revocation projects we’ve undertaken at Waka Kotahi, due to the location of this section of old SH1 which goes through towns and rural areas, as well as the number of council requirements,” Project Manager Jacob Laird, says.

“It’s great to have the physical works pretty much completed which means there’s now minimal disruption for those travelling in the area.”

The next phase of the revocation process involves officially transferring ownership of the road from Waka Kotahi to the Council, with its status changing from a state highway to a local road. This will be undertaken over the next few months.

Waikanae Bridge pedestrian/cycleway

In our last update, we advised there were delays with obtaining some items for the bridge structure that will form a new pathway for pedestrians/cyclists over Waikanae River. These items have now arrived.

However, some design issues have become apparent over the last few months, in that intended works at Waikanae River bridge’s southern abutment (support structure) - to enable the pathway structure to be attached - will clash with water supply mains and major electrical infrastructure.

These issues are being worked through, but have caused delays to the progress of these works. 

We'll let you know once we have more certainty over when the works will progress and an expected completion date.

Note: these works are separate to the M2PP corridor improvements project.

Projects further north

If you’re keen to know what projects are happening further north along the corridor, have a read of the following information.

Peka Peka to Ōtaki revocation works

Now the Peka Peka to Ōtaki Expressway is open, old SH1 in that area needs to be made fit-for-purpose as a local road before ownership and responsibility for it is transferred to Kāpiti Coast District Council. Here’s the latest on this project:

• Geotechnical ground investigations, along with road surface and site utility surveys along parts of old SH1, are being carried out. These determine the condition of existing underground assets like culverts and pipes, location of underground services, depth of the existing road layers and ground strength. 
• Findings from these investigations and surveys will be used to finalise detailed designs for road/safety improvements along the corridor.
• An invitation to tender for the physical works will be released later this year, with contractor selection taking place in late 2023 or early 2024.
• Physical works are likely to commence in the first quarter of 2024 and are expected to take about two years to complete.

If you’d like to receive updates about these revocation works during the project, sign up on the Peka Peka to Ōtaki corridor improvements webpage.

Wellington Transport Alliance works

Waka Kotahi, Fulton Hogan and WSP make up the Alliance and are responsible for maintenance and operations of the Wellington region’s state highways.

• The SH1 Ōtaki to Ohau road safety improvements project is underway north of the expressway. A vehicle turnaround – one of three to be built between Ōtaki and Manakau – is under construction in the rest area at the bottom of Forest Lakes hill with this work expected to be completed in late April. Travellers can still use the rest area, but road users will see altered lane layouts in the vicinity.
• The turnaround will provide a safe place to turn right across the highway once median barriers are installed as part of the safety project.

More information

For more information on the Mackays to Peka Peka revocation project, contact us at m2pprevocation@nzta.govt.nz

Visit our website www.nzta.govt.nz/m2pp-revocation