Ōtaki to north of Levin update

24 April 2025

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA), Muaūpoko Tribal Authority, local hapū of Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga and council partner Horowhenua District Council (HDC) are working together to create a positive legacy for the region while we build a new, safer, efficient, and more reliable State Highway 1 (SH1) from Ōtaki to north of Levin.

In this newsletter, we'd like to update you on the works underway, including the site investigations, new project site office, the predator proof area and the roundabout works on State Highway 57 (SH57).

Earthworks trial at SH57

Out and about on site – works update

Site investigations have been in full swing this past month, with our soil testing and earthworks trials continuing. We’re using the insights from soil drilling and testing to inform our overall programme, design and construction sequencing. 

We’ve also started archaeology digs, at some of the 12 potential archaeological sites identified during our consenting process. We’ll undertake these investigations before construction starts. 

We’re also making great progress with our new site office build on Tararua Road. If you’ve driven past lately, you’ll see buildings taking shape. We expect it to be up and running around mid-year. Once open, we’ll vacate the current office on Oxford Street, Levin.

Predator proof area construction underway

We've started work to develop a 4-hectare predator proof area where we’ll relocate protected lizards during construction of the new Ō2NL highway. We’re building this on land at the corner of Queen Street East and Arapaepae Road (State Highway 57), and it will be a long-term enclosure during and after the project.  

Under the project’s Resource Management Act consent conditions, before construction works start in certain areas, we need to search for and safely relocate any native lizards we find, to a safe and fenced, predator-free area. 

To get the area ready, we’ll plant the area with native trees and plants, carry out pest control (animals and plants), and create habitat features including log stacks, lizard hides and natural stone piles. If we find lizards during vegetation clearance, we’ll relocate them to their new home. 

We have trained ecologists and kaitiaki who can search for and relocate the lizards. We have a few ways to find them, including placing roofing tiles to create warm spots that attract lizards, live traps, or manually searching.  

We’ll also supervise vegetation clearance in areas of lizard habitat to locate those we don’t find during searching.   

Plan ahead for temporary traffic management for watermain tie-in

SH57/Tararua Road roundabout – watermain tie in scheduled to begin

Construction at the SH57/Tararua Road roundabout site continues to make good progress. You’ll continue to see a lot of activity on site as the team works to install services and build the first 3 legs of the roundabout. 

The next milestone will be the tie-in of a new watermain. This is scheduled to begin Thursday 1 May until Wednesday 7 May. While the new watermain is being connected there will be a lot of activity on site, and additional traffic management to ensure crews can work as safely and quickly as possible.

While this work is underway there will be stop/go traffic management in place at the eastern section of Tararua Road. This will ensure that traffic can continue to use the intersection, while keeping crews and road users safe.  This is in addition to the traffic management and detours already in place.

Crews will be working 7am to 5pm, except on Sunday 4 May when there will be activity for a 24-hour period to enable the watermain connection. The work on Sunday and into Monday morning (7am Sunday to 7am Monday) will include periods of noisy work and additional lighting so crews can work safely overnight. There will be no construction activity on Saturday 3 May.

As we look ahead, we’re on track to finish the first phase of works by mid-year. We’ll then begin work on the eastern side of the roundabout. We’ll continue to keep you updated as this work progresses.

Thanks to all residents and road users for your ongoing patience while we work to make this intersection safer.

Outcome of recent speed limit consultation

NZTA consulted between 30 January and 13 March 2025 to determine support levels for keeping current lowered speed limits at 49 specific state highway locations.

Over 21,500 people had their say, and based on their feedback, 43 locations will return to their previous higher speed limits.

This includes the 3 local sections of highway: SH1 Ohau to Manakau and Manakau to Pukehou Overbridge, and SH57 from SH1 to Heatherlea East Road.

A summary of feedback received through the consultation process is available on our website.

Consultation outcome

Upcoming community engagement

Thank you to everyone who came along to speak to the team at our March project office open day. We appreciate the opportunity to speak to the community about the new highway and other projects happening in the area. 

There won’t be an open day this month, however we will be hosting several events in May. 

Over the last few months, the project team have been working through the developed design phase of the project, ahead of starting construction in Spring this year. The sessions in May will be a chance for us to provide you with an update on this work and share the proposed final design with you.

Please keep an eye out for our next project newsletter for details of the upcoming public events.

Ō2NL Community Group

In our last update we asked you to get in touch if you’d like to join the Ō2NL Community Group. The focus of these groups will include topics such as construction sequencing, access routes and impacts specific to each community. 

If you’re a local community member, and interested in joining our community groups, please contact us by email at O2NL@nzta.govt.nz.

More information

Visit our website www.nzta.govt.nz/o2nl to find out about the new highway and other projects happening in this corridor.

For more information on the Ōtaki to north of Levin programme, contact us at O2NL@nzta.govt.nz or call 0508 625 4636.