Ōtaki to north of Levin project update – December 2021

We’re working to build a new highway for regional and through traffic by the end of the decade, as part of our programme to make travel from Ōtaki to north of Levin safer and more resilient, and to increase transport choices for the area’s growing population.

The new highway will also support the growth plans that Horowhenua District Council has been developing with their communities.

The preferred alignment on the new highway.

Preferred alignment of new highway announced

Site investigations and design work over the last two years have provided increasing confidence in the location of the new highway.

This work included feedback from property owners, our iwi partners, stakeholders and the wider community when we announced the draft preferred alignment in August 2020 and the refined draft preferred alignment in March 2021.

Waka Kotahi is now able to share with you the preferred alignment for the new highway, which has been assessed as the optimal location for the road from our work to date.

Earlier this week, we let property owners know about the preferred alignment, which is shown on maps with a green haze. At this time, we are removing the 300m-wide preferred corridor we announced in December 2018 from the plans.

The preferred alignment map shows preliminary concept design lines of the new highway and shared user path.

To view this map, please visit the maps page of our website.

Project office open day in December

The Ō2NL project office in Levin will be open to the public on Wednesday 15 December between 10am and 6pm. Project team members will be available to answer questions about the preferred alignment of the new highway, as well as safety improvement projects in the area.

The Ō2NL Project Office is at 171 Oxford Street, Levin. As Levin is currently at Orange in the Covid-19 traffic light system, vaccine passes are required to enter the project office – these will be verified by a staff member. We ask all visitors to the office to continue to wear masks and sign in using the QR code.

You’re welcome to drop in and talk with us.

Higgins contractors take a moment before starting work on the safety improvements on SH1 near Kuku in December.

SH1 Kuku safety improvements under construction

Following community engagement on SH1 Ōtaki to Levin safety improvements in July this year, we have refined our plan for infrastructure improvements in the Kuku section of the road, to make this stretch safer.

Earlier in December 2021, we started work to resurface the road and change the line markings between the Tatum Park conference centre and Ohau Rail Overbridge. These changes will permanently remove the passing lanes in both directions, provide painted wide centrelines and provide wider road shoulders. We’re also adding safe hit posts in some places.

Recent weather conditions have affected our plans to complete the work prior to Christmas.  The site will be made safe for the summer holidays and the work will be completed in early 2022.  Please look out for when temporary speed limits are in place to keep our workers safe.

A group of 24 people including Kaumātua, Horowhenua District Mayor Bernie Wanden, Waka Kotahi staff and Higgins contractors stood together at Tukorehe Marae on the evening of 1 December to acknowledge the impact of road crashes at Kuku on families and the community.

SH57 northbound detour map

SH57 roadwork detour northbound

Work on the Queen Street / SH57 roundabout started in May, and in the New Year we’ll start on seal widening to accommodate painted wide centrelines and sections of side barrier.

During the construction of the safety improvements on SH57 in 2022, Arapaepae Road will be southbound only, south of Heatherlea East Road.

This will enable us to complete these works as quickly as possible, minimising the impact to locals and businesses in the longer term while we deliver these important safety improvements to make the road safer. Closing the southern end of SH57 to northbound traffic is considered the only feasible option while carrying out this work. 

The detour will take effect on 12 January 2022. If you would like to talk to the team about this work, phone 0508 625 4636 or visit the Levin office open day on Wednesday 15 December.

Muaūpoko Kaumātua Kuia and whanaū, Muaūpoko Tribal Authority, Waka Kotahi project team members gather in November 2021

Muaūpoko contribute Mauri stones to SH57 safety improvements

Work is progressing on the new roundabout at the SH57/Queen Street intersection, and on 10-11 November 2021 Muaūpoko contributed a significant element to this work.

A special ceremony started at dusk on Kohuturoa Marae and laid Mauri stones the following dawn underneath the construction site.

The stones are imbued with protective blessings, providing guardianship to all who travel through this place.

The team at Waka Kotahi are honoured by the support of Muaūpoko as we work together to create a positive and safe gateway for Taitoko Levin.

Ō2NL Community Group meetings in 2022

Thanks to members of our O2NL Community Groups for taking the time to meet with us during the year.  These meetings have been valuable opportunities for the project team and our technical experts to share work underway and discuss the local context.  Ō2NL Community Groups will resume in February next year.

If you are not signed-up for these meetings and would like to participate, please email us at O2NL@nzta.govt.nz. We can also provide a Zoom meeting invite for those wishing to attend remotely.

Deconstruction of the old Manawatū River Bridge is due to be completed next year

Deconstruction of old Manawatū River Bridge

Following the completion of the new Manawatū River Bridge and Whirokino Trestle earlier this year, the old Manawatū River bridge is being carefully de-constructed in a reversal of the way it was constructed more than 70 years ago.

Where possible, steel and concrete material removed from the old bridge will be recycled for other purposes. Concrete from the old Trestle has been recycled and was used as part of the construction of the crane pads currently being used to deconstruct the old river bridge.

Important environmental controls to manage de-construction methods and minimise impact on the river will also be in place. This includes encasing the bridge deck and piers in protective material, and operating a wet vacuum to contain dust, water and sediment.

The old river bridge will be completely removed (down to river-bed level) and new sections of stop bank will be constructed in place of the old bridge abutments

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.