Ōtaki to north of Levin update – March 2024

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Muaūpoko Tribal Authority, local hapū of Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga and council partner Horowhenua District Council are working together to create a positive legacy for the region while we build a new, safer and more reliable State Highway 1 from Ōtaki to north of Levin.

This month we give an update on the Levin to Foxton safety improvement project, invite local businesses to complete a survey to register their interest in working on the Ō2NL project and ask you to come along to the March Ō2NL project office open day to learn more about what’s happening in your area.

Construction is well underway on the Levin to Foxton safety improvements

SH1 Levin to Foxton safety improvements

If you’ve travelled along SH1 between Levin and Foxton lately you may have seen workers making good progress on the first stage of safety improvements.

The team onsite have been hard at work constructing a turnaround facility at the southern entry to Foxton. Once this is complete towards the end of May, we will install flexible median barrier between Foxton and the Manawatū River bridge.

This barrier will make the road so much safer. Median barrier recently installed south of Levin has already been hit several times since it was installed late last year. Each time it is hit, a potential head on crash is prevented.

From Sunday 3 March until Tuesday 5 March our contractor will be undertaking pavement works at the site each night between the hours of 6pm and 6am.

While this pavement work is underway, Stop/Go traffic management will be in place in addition to the current 30km/h temporary speed limit. Please keep to the temporary speed limit to keep workers and other road users safe.

Our contractor has also now started construction on the next turnaround at the Oturoa Road intersection. This is due to be open to the public to use by mid-2024 when median barrier is installed between the bridge and the intersection but won’t be fully complete until later in the year.

For more information about the Levin to Foxton safety improvement project take a look at the new project video using the link above or visit the project website.

SH1 Levin to Foxton safety improvements

The Ō2NL team presenting to local businesses in October 2023 about future opportunities on the project

Local business survey

Last year we reached out to iwi, Māori and local businesses who have an interest in working on the Ōtaki to north of Levin new highway project, and asked for those interested to complete a short online survey.

The information gained from initial respondents has supported us to get an understanding of the current local market so we can make create opportunities for iwi, Māori and local businesses on the project and develop a plan for procuring sub-contractors, sub-consultants and service providers which will happen by early 2025.

If you haven’t completed the survey, but are interested in opportunities for local businesses, the survey is still open.  By completing the survey you will be added to our local market contact list, and we can keep you informed as the process progresses. We’ll be sending our first update to those who have completed the survey next month.

Local businesses with an interest in working on the Ōtaki to north of Levin project can complete the survey by visiting nzta.govt.nz/o2nl-survey.

Come along to the next Ō2NL project office open day to speak with the team about the projects happening in your area.

Ō2NL project office open day – Thursday 21 March

Our next Ōtaki to north of Levin project office open day is on Thursday 21 March from 12noon – 6pm.

Please join us at 171 Oxford Steet, Levin to speak to the team about the new highway, the new Tararua Road/ SH57 roundabout and the state highway safety improvement projects in your area.

If you’d like to talk with the team 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.