Penlink newsletter keeps you up-to-date with project progress and upcoming activities for the Penlink project.

PENLINK NEWSLETTER FOR OCTOBER 2021

On 27 September, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency reached a major milestone when we released tender documents to the shortlisted candidates for Penlink.

For several months, we have been working through the standards and specifications required when dealing with Penlink’s highly valued flora and fauna, soil conditions and local road connections as well as building the bridge crossing over the Weiti River. The tender documents include a range of technical requirements for earthworks, environmental management, safety and landscape requirements.

The completion of the tender documents is a critical step towards enabling the candidates to develop their proposals. The requirements are key to constructing a quality two-lane corridor with a shared path for people walking and on bikes.

Based on the requirements in the tender documents, the shortlisted candidates will develop their design and submit their proposals by late February 2022. Waka Kotahi will then undertake a rigorous evaluation process enabling a preferred candidate to be selected by mid-2022.

We will continue to keep you updated as we make progress.

A drilling rig being set up alongside Ara Weiti Road

GROUND INVESTIGATIONS UNDERWAY

On 28 September, we resumed geotechnical investigations to test and monitor the ground and water conditions in the Penlink corridor. Please check out the updated timeline for the investigations. These activities can continue in COVID-19 Alert Level 3 under strict health and safety rules, which will keep staff safe.

Between October and mid-December, we will use a helicopter to carry special machinery into some areas in the Penlink corridor where road access isn’t possible. You can find more about the ground investigations on our Visual updates.

We are also undertaking site investigations to accurately locate the existing underground utility services in October/November. The findings from the utility services investigations will enable us to safely work around these in the future and identify any potential impacts from the construction works.

As well as working during daytime, we will be working at night between 9pm and 4am in some areas to complete the investigations to make up the time lost during Covid alert level 4. We will minimise noise and thank you in advance for your understanding while we undertake these necessary investigations.

All our staff and contractors comply with strict health and safety requirements. If you have any questions about the site works, please email or call us rather than directly approaching our teams on-site to help us follow the health and safety regulations.

ROAD TO A TOLL ROAD

Waka Kotahi assesses all new state highways for tolling and NZ Upgrade Programme roads like Penlink are no different. Since the Government announced Penlink as a proposed toll road in 2020, Waka Kotahi has been assessing tolling suitability for Penlink.  

The concept of tolling Penlink has a long history. In 2006, Rodney District Council sought public feedback on tolling as a funding mechanism to move forward with the Penlink project. Many people had supported tolling Penlink as the alternative route to Whangaparāoa Road.

Tolling is a useful tool that can help offset the maintenance and operations costs of a new road. Our assessment uses many important criteria to understand the potential risks and benefits of tolling Penlink to ensure that it aligns with the Government Policy Statement on Land Transport and the project objectives.

Findings from the assessment will tell us how tolling would contribute to travel times savings and better environmental outcomes on Penlink.

Based on the assessment findings, Waka Kotahi will ask for approval from the Minister of Transport to undertake public consultation to seek feedback about tolling Penlink.

The final tolling assessment will soon be available on our website and we will update you on the next steps.

ABOUT PENLINK

Penlink will form a vital connection for north Auckland, linking the Whangaparāoa Peninsula with wider Auckland. The 7km road will offer greater transport capacity and travel choice and support planned growth in Silverdale, Dairy Flat and the Hibiscus Coast in the decades to come.

The two-lane road with a shared use path for people walking and on bikes will also provide surrounding communities more sustainable transport choices by supporting better transport access and providing safer journeys.

Penlink is part of the New Zealand Upgrade Programme, the Government’s $8.7 billion investment in growing areas across the country. Communities can look forward to transport improvements that provide more travel choices, help people get where they’re going safely and grow our economy, while responding to the impacts of travel on the environment.

Contact us

For more information, please contact us at penlink@nzta.govt.nz or 0800 PENLINK (0800 7365 465).

You can also visit www.nzta.govt.nz/penlink for general information on Penlink and to subscribe our e-updates.