Ōtaki to north of Levin update

3 November 2025

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA), Muaūpoko Tribal Authority, local hapū of Ngāti Raukawa te au ki te Tonga, council partner Horowhenua District Council (HDC) and alliance partners 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.

Haul road built near North Manakau Road.

Ō2NL construction update - one month in and full steam ahead

It’s been a month since construction officially kicked off on the Ō2NL expressway, and things are humming along nicely.

Right now, a lot of the action is focused on building haul roads. These are special roads that let dump trucks move earth around the site without increasing traffic on main roads. About 60% of these haul roads are done, which is a great milestone.

Crews are also working on sediment retention ponds and reservoirs. Sediment ponds help keep our waterways clean by catching runoff from site. Reservoirs store water that’s used during construction - especially for keeping dust down. Later on, some of these reservoirs will be transformed into permanent wetlands.

Other work happening includes putting up temporary fencing, making access tracks, and clearing vegetation to prepare the site for the next stages.

Students of Horowhenua schools working together to create new habitats for native lizards in the Ō2NL Predator Proof Area

Local students help build new homes for native lizards

There was plenty of excitement and teamwork on display on Thursday 30 October as students from 6 Horowhenua schools rolled up their sleeves to help create new habitats for native lizards. These habitats will soon become the permanent home for any native lizards we find during the construction of the Ō2NL expressway.

The activity - facilitated by Ō2NL project iwi partners and Enviroschools Horowhenua - took place in the northern section of the expressway near Levin, where a specially designed 4-hectare Predator Proof Area has been built. Although the fence was completed in August, it must remain pest-free for at least 30 days before lizards can move in. That milestone has been reached, and the area is ready to welcome its first scaly residents.

The children worked in groups to build lizard-friendly environments using natural materials like sticks, logs, rocks and branches. Each part of the enclosure is tailored to suit different species, including the ornate skink, brown skink, copper skink, and northern grass skink.

These efforts are part of a wider initiative to protect native lizards during construction of the new expressway. Early site investigations confirmed the presence of several protected species within the project footprint. Under the Resource Management Act consent conditions, any lizards found during vegetation clearance must be safely relocated to a secure, predator-free area.

To prepare the enclosure, we've planted native trees and shrubs (in addition to established woodlands), and have a comprehensive pest control programme in place to ensure the area is predator-free. The area will serve as a long-term sanctuary for these protected species, both during and after construction.

Photo from the Ō2NL drop-in session in Manakau last month. Come along to our Levin drop-in session this week to speak to the project team.

Ō2NL Levin drop-in session – 6 November

A reminder that we have our rescheduled Ō2NL project drop-in session in Levin this week.

Please join us on Thursday 6 November, between 3pm and 6pm at Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō  to speak to the team about the new expressway.

Thank you to everyone who came along to our October drop-in sessions. As we start construction, it’s great to meet the community and chat about the expressway.

If you can’t make this week’s event, but have any questions, please email us at info@o2nl.nz.

Detour map for nighttime road closure to complete the SH57/Tararua Road roundabout

Final stage of SH57/Tararua Road roundabout construction soon underway

Over the last 11 months, we’ve been working in partnership with Horowhenua District Council to build a new roundabout at the SH57/Tararua Road intersection. While the Ō2NL expressway construction progresses, the new roundabout improves safety at this busy intersection and provides a future connection to the new expressway and the Tara-Ika growth area.

The roundabout is nearing completion, and we're preparing for the final stage of construction.

Plan ahead for nighttime road closures on SH57 and Tararua Road

The final asphalting and line marking for the roundabout is scheduled from Sunday 16 November until Friday 28 November. 

To complete this work safely and efficiently, we will close SH57/Arapaepae Road from Meadowvale Drive to Kimberley Road, and both the eastern and western section of Tararua Road from SH57. The closure will be in place between 7pm and 6am each night, excluding Friday and Saturday evenings.

Detours will be in place during this time, please see the map above to view the overnight detour.

SH57 will remain fully open during the day, with a temporary speed limit in place. 

The final asphalting layer is dependent on weather, as the warmer and dryer weather will make for a smoother, stronger surface that will last longer. Therefore, work may be postponed if necessary.

After this work, the roundabout construction will be fully complete. We’d like to thank everyone for their patience during construction.

Construction starts on SH1/Waitārere Beach Road roundabout

Construction on a new roundabout at the intersection of SH1 and Waitārere Beach Road has begun.

The new roundabout is necessary to provide a safe and efficient connection to Waitārere Beach as the population of the region grows and traffic increases on SH1 and Waitārere Beach Road.

The roundabout is being constructed as part of a suite of safety improvements being made to SH1 between Levin and Foxton in preparation for Ō2NL.

To start, crews are widening the road and installing stormwater infrastructure necessary to support the roundabout. This stage of work is expected to be completed by mid-March 2026. Following this, work will begin on the roundabout itself.

Until mid-March the intersection will largely be open to two lanes of traffic with a temporary speed limit in place.

Work will take place during the day, Monday to Friday, until early December. From December through to mid-March, there will be a mix of day and night works. We will speak with nearby residents prior to night work starting.

No work will happen over the Christmas/New Year period (20 December 2025 – 4 January 2026).

We will provide updates on construction progress and changes to traffic management as work continues.

We expect the roundabout to be completed by the end of 2026.

We’re committed to creating a roading network that enables people and goods to get to where they’re going safely and efficiently. Once Ō2NL is complete, the roundabout and other safety improvements we’ve made will keep people safe while they transition between the new and existing highway environments.

More information

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

For more information on the Ōtaki to north of Levin programme, contact us at info@o2nl.nz or call 0508 625 4636.