Ōtaki to north of Levin update

17 December 2024

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 share updates on construction activities starting in the new year, our latest project milestone, and an update on the Ō2NL tolling proposal. We'd also like to give a small round up of some of the key milestones we've reached this year, invite you to the first open day of the year, and provide an update on other projects happening in your area.

Ō2NL project reached key milestone with the granting of consents

The Ōtaki to north of Levin (Ō2NL) new highway project is delighted to have received the Environment Court decision to grant resource consents for the new highway.

Ō2NL Acting Project Director Glen Prince says the approval of the resource consents marks a significant milestone for the project. 

“The Court’s decision means we are another step closer to delivering a safer, efficient and more resilient highway between Ōtaki and north of Levin,” says Mr Prince.

“We’d like to thank the community who have taken the time to get involved over the years, as well as those who provided submissions to the Councils and worked with the project team throughout the RMA process.

“We look forward to continuing to work with the community up to and throughout construction of the project.”

A detour will be in place while work on the western side of the SH57/Tararua Road roundabout is underway.

SH57/Tararua Road roundabout – construction to start in the new year

Construction of the new roundabout at the State Highway 57 (SH57)/Tararua Road intersection is scheduled to begin in January.

NZTA and HDC are working in partnership to build a new roundabout at the SH57/ Tararua Road intersection.

While work progresses on the new Ō2NL highway, the new roundabout will improve safety at this busy intersection and also provide a future connection to the new highway and Tara-Ika growth area.

Over the last couple of weeks, crews have been on site carrying out investigation works to confirm roundabout design and prepare to begin work on the roundabout in the new year. Traffic management won’t be in place over the Christmas period.

Stage one of roundabout works

From the week of 13 January 2025, construction crews will start the first stage of work at the western side of the intersection. This will include the construction of 3 legs of the roundabout and installing watermain and Electra/ Chorus services.

During this phase of work, there will be no access from SH57 to the western section of Tararua Road and a detour will be in place. The detour will direct vehicles heading north via Queen Street East, and those travelling south to State Highway 1 via Kimberley Road.

The detour will allow traffic to flow steadily through SH57, minimising disruption on a busy state highway.

There will also be a 30km/h temporary speed limit on SH57 nearby the site for the safety of road users and crews.

Crews will be working Monday to Friday between 6am and 6:30pm, however the detour and temporary speed limit will remain in place on evenings and weekends while the work is completed.

We expect the first stage of work will be complete in June 2025. Following this, the team will move on to work on the eastern side of the roundabout.

The roundabout is expected to be complete around the end of 2025.

Ō2NL project site office - construction starting in January

It will be a busy start to the year, with the construction of Ō2NL site office also starting in January.

Once complete the new site office, based at Tararua Road, will provide office space for the Ō2NL team throughout the construction of the new highway. It will also become the main space for the community to meet with the team, as the project will vacate the current office on Oxford Street, Levin.

When work starts in January 2025 the community can expect to see increased activity around the site. Any construction disruption on the road should be limited to about a fortnight, while teams create the new access. 

Following this, most of the works will be in the field where the site and car park will be built.

We expect that the new office will be complete in mid-2025.

Ōtaki to north of Levin tolling decision

The Minister of Transport has announced the decision to toll Ō2NL.

The decision provides the project with the direction needed to move forward, and clarity for communities and road users.

Revenue collected from the toll will ensure Ōtaki to north of Levin remains safe and well maintained and will contribute towards the construction and maintenance of the road.

Consultation included toll rates of $2.70 for light vehicles and $5.40 for heavy vehicles (2024 dollars and subject to adjustment including for Consumer Price Index increases). 

Public consultation is a valued part of the process and the insights gained through submissions were considered in the decision-making process.

The Ō2NL tolling consultation submission summary report is available on our website: Ōtaki to north of Levin tolling consultation summary report.

The Minister’s announcement is available online: https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/government-enable-tolling-accelerate-investment-roads

Clockwise from left: Site investigations underway, soil samples from Ō2NL alignment, Local businesses attending a H&S workshop, business briefing in Ōtaki, the team talking to rangatahi about career aspirations and opportunities.

Taking a look back at 2024

As we come to the end of 2024, we want to take a look back on some of the progress and key milestones that the project has reached over the last 12 months and what we expect from 2025.

• In December 2023, we announced the preferred alliance partners for the Ō2NL project. Over the first half of 2024, we worked closely with them to develop a strong and collaborative foundation to set the project up for effective delivery.
   
• In June, the project was pleased to sign the two interim agreements that established the alliances that will support the ongoing development and delivery of the Ō2NL highway project.
   
• After an interim Environment Court decision in June this year, this month the court granted resource consents and confirmed the Notices of Requirement for the Ō2NL project.  Thanks to everyone who took the time to participate in this process.
   
• In October site investigations began at various points along the alignment. This work is providing a better understanding of the soil and environment for the Ō2NL project.
   
• We have continued the process of working with landowners and the project has now acquired over 70% of the land required to build the road. Our project team would like to thank the landowners for their approach to this process and recognise the impacts this has on their lives.
   
• While progress has been made on the new highway project, we have also been working to make the existing State Highway 1 safer. We started work on the Levin to Foxton safety improvement project early this year, and the Ōtaki to Ohau safety improvement project was completed.
   
• We’ve been pleased to attend and host a number of events this year and appreciate the opportunity to speak with the community about projects happening in the area. Over the year, we hosted 10 project office open days, which saw nearly 200 people attend to talk to the team.
   
• In September and October, we held a number of briefings and tender readiness workshops for local businesses interested in working on the project. Over these events, around 350 attendees joined us to learn more about how they could be involved in the project.
   
• The project team attended the Horowhenua Future Pathways day in October. It was a pleasure to speak with local rangatahi about their career ambitions and how they could develop careers within infrastructure projects like Ō2NL.

2025 is shaping up to be a busy year too, with the roundabout project and site office starting in January and ongoing site investigations. Detailed design on the new highway will also be underway in the new year, and we look forward to starting main construction works in spring 2025, with site establishment works in the months prior.

Koputaroa Road turnaround facility now open

The team working on the SH1 Levin to Foxton safety improvements are making good progress, with the turnaround at the intersection of SH1 and Koputaroa Road now open.

This turnaround facility joins those constructed at the southern entrance to Foxton and the intersection of SH1 and Oturoa Road. The facility provides a safe place for motorists to turnaround once the flexible median barrier between Oturoa and Koputaroa roads is installed.

In the new year, crews will complete the installation of side and median barrier as well as underground some powerlines and complete tidy up work.

Once this is complete, work on the next stage of works is expected to start in late 2025 with the construction of a roundabout at the Waitārere Beach Road intersection.

More information about the project is available on our website: nzta.govt.nz/levin-to-foxton

Upcoming road maintenance on SH56 Opiki

State Highway 56 through Opiki will be closing during daytime hours for 2 months from January for a raft of maintenance.

Crews will be onsite between Tuesday 7 January and Friday 7 March each weekday between 6am and 6pm, including some weekends. Outside of these hours, the road is open with a reduced speed limit in place.

During this work, crews will be carrying out two road rebuilds, drainage improvements, bridge deck repairs and general maintenance.

The road will be closed between Alve Road and the intersection with State Highway 57. A detour will be in place, via SH57 through Tokomaru or SH1 through Foxton.

For more information read our media release here.

Project office open day - Thursday 20 February 2025

Our first project office open day for 2025 will be held:

• Thursday 20 February from 1pm – 5pm

Please join us at 171 Oxford Street, Levin to speak with the team about the new highway and other projects in your area.

Our events give us a chance to meet with you in person and answer any questions you may have. If you'd like to chat with the team between events, you can email us at O2NL@nzta.govt.nz or phone 0508 625 4636

Ō2NL over the Christmas holidays

The Ō2NL team are taking a break over Christmas and New Year and the project phone line and email will not be monitored between 20 December 2024 and 6 January 2025.

If you do have any questions over the Christmas holiday, please email us on O2NL@nzta.govt.nz and we will respond when we are back on deck in 2025. If you’d like to report anything relating to state highways or get the latest travel information, please call 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49).

We wish you and your whānau a very Merry Christmas and wonderful new year.

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.