Peka Peka to Ōtaki Expressway

Express CONNECT

28 April 2022


 

Kia ora

 

Welcome to the April edition of the PP2Ō Expressway construction update – Express Connect.

This month’s change in traffic light settings sends a strong signal from the Government that we’re moving back to some normality in our lives and, despite the fact we had over 40 of our workers on the construction site self-isolating at some point in recent weeks, we’re celebrating another fantastic month on the project.

Chris Hunt

While it’s great news that the country is moving to ’orange’, we at PP2Ō still have controls in place to manage the Health and Safety of our staff and visitors, as well as ensure good progress is made on the Expressway.

Paving is the big focus for the PP2Ō Expressway team at the moment and, if you drive along SH1 often, you’ll notice the significant progress our asphalt crew has been making. As of this month, we’ve laid 94% of the AC20 asphalt and 68% of AC14 asphalt. Both AC20 and AC14 are components of the Expressway’s 175mm structural paving, also called deep lift asphalt, which are the first two layers of asphalt before we apply the ‘icing on the cake’ i.e. 25mm of EMOGPA (Epoxy Modified Open Graded Porous Asphalt). After we finish the AC20 and AC14 on the main alignment, the focus will shift to asphalt works at the tie-ins, ramps and bridges over the winter period.

We’re planning to lay a small section of EMOGPA next month to ensure we’ve got our methodology nailed down before the winter months set in (roughly June through to August), with the remaining sections scheduled to be laid in the spring (September onwards). The cold and wet winter weather prevents the laying of thin surfaces such as EMOGPA due to low ground/air temperatures which pose a risk to the quality and durability of the product during placement.

This month, we’ve laid more than 100,000 tons of deep lift asphalt on the main alignment.

The Peka Peka to Ōtaki Expressway will provide a safer, more resilient, and efficient route between Wellington and the North once complete.

If you need any further information, please visit our website www.nzta.govt.nz/pp2o, call us on 0800 PP2O INFO or email pp2o@nzta.govt.nz

Ngā mihi
Chris Hunt, Project Director

 

Bridges 6 and 7 (Ōtaki Gorge Road bridges)
 

Working on the culverts.

Winiata Link Road progress

Construction work on Winiata Link Road is progressing well. The new road will provide access to residents with properties backing onto the road, as well as access to the renowned kilns. A well-known local landmark, the historic kilns were used by the late acclaimed potter Mirek Smíšek. In 2019, the kilns and a nearby brick chimney were carefully dismantled and moved a short distance east of their original location, safely out of the way of the new Expressway. Since then, they’ve been carefully reconstructed and are now at the centre of a move to establish an arts centre in Ōtaki.

Read more

 

Street lights south of Ōtaki Gorge Road
 

Street lights south of Ōtaki Gorge Road.

PP2Ō in numbers

If you’ve missed any of our recent newsletters, here is a summary of the Peka Peka to Ōtaki Expressway project in numbers:

• PP2Ō is a four-lane expressway stretching approximately 13 kilometres from Peka Peka, north of the Kapiti Expressway, to north of Ōtaki township.
• Ten structures have been built as part of the Expressway – nine bridges and one pedestrian/cycle underpass opposite Makahuri that will provide a passageway under the Expressway for cyclists and pedestrians to continue their journey on the shared path.

Read more

 

 

Flying north, looking west.

 

 

Flying south, looking east.

 

Image
 

We're seeking your ideas for a time capsule!

Much of what we know about our history has come from artefacts that tell stories of our ancestors. If you could leave a piece of Ōtaki to be discovered by future generations – what would it be?

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Northern area.

Upcoming construction milestones

  • Deep lift asphalt paving in the northern area to be completed by the end of August 2022.

Read more

 

 

More information

 
 

For more information on the Peka Peka to Ōtaki Expressway, contact us at 0800 7726 4636 or email pp2o@nzta.govt.nz

Visit our website www.nzta.govt.nz/pp2o