Ōtaki to north of Levin update – October 2022

We’re working to build a new highway for regional and through traffic by the end of the decade, as we focus on making travel from Ōtaki to north of Levin safer and more resilient, as well as increasing transport choices and supporting economic growth in the region.

In the last few months, we've been considering additional safety improvement opportunities on SH1 between Ōtaki and Levin - see below for changes to the plans. Also, our Levin project office will be open to the public tomorrow, Thursday 20 October from 11am-6pm.

Additional lengths of median barriers north of Manakau are planned to improve safety on SH1. The SH1/SH57 roundabout has also been removed from current plans.

State Highway 1 safety improvement update

In July 2021, we shared proposals for safety improvements on State Highway 1 between Ōtaki and Levin. In the time since, we have continued to refine the proposed designs while also delivering early safety improvement infrastructure between Manakau and Ohau, completed earlier this year. 

At engagement, we presented plans for stretches of median barriers, painted wide centrelines, side barriers and a roundabout at the SH1/SH57 intersection. 

As with all Waka Kotahi projects, we have conducted thorough reviews of our plans on SH1 before we move into construction. This is to ensure we get the best safety improvements possible within the scope of each project. 

Following community and stakeholder feedback and these technical reviews, we've identified a number of areas where changes to the design needed to be made to make the road as safe as possible. This includes changes to the 'southern turnaround' location and additional stretches of median barrier between Manakau and Ohau. The SH1/SH57 roundabout is also no longer included in this safety improvements project.

We are currently working out a timeline with a contractor for the construction of the proposed safety improvements on SH1 between Ōtaki and Levin.

The Ō2NL project office will be open to the public tomorrow.

Levin project office open day tomorrow

The Ō2NL project office will be open to the public tomorrow, Thursday 20 October, 11am-6pm. The Ō2NL Project Office is at 171 Oxford Street, Levin.

We’ll have members of the team on hand to answer your questions about the new highway, what it’ll mean for moving around the area, and what it’ll be like to have the new highway in your neighbourhood.

Our open day events give you a chance to meet with us face-to-face. If you have questions between events, you can email us at O2NL@nzta.govt.nz or phone 0508 625 4636.

More information

Visit our website www.nzta.govt.nz/o2nl to find out about our work in the corridor or check out:

• www.nzta.govt.nz/o2nl-proposed-new-highway for information on the new highway, or
• www.nzta.govt.nz/o2nl-safe-speeds, to find out more about speed, or
• www.nzta.govt.nz/o2nl-safer-roads-and-roadsides to find out more about the work to make our existing roads and roadsides safer.

Our email newsletters will let you know when there is new information on our website.

Do you know people who want to know more? They can subscribe here.

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