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Express CONNECT
February 2022

 

Kia ora

Welcome to the February edition of Express Connect.

If you’ve recently driven along State Highway 1 near Peka Peka, you may have noticed the fantastic progress our paving team is making at the southern end of the Expressway. We’re endeavouring to complete the deep lift asphalt in this area by the end of March.

 

Chris Hunt

I’d like to extend my appreciation to our asphalt crew for their work laying hot asphalt during these summer months, with temperatures reaching over 30°C some days. If you take into consideration that the asphalt mix is at least 140°C when applied, the combination can be a scorcher! To minimise the effects of the heat on our crew, we’ve implemented a variety of initiatives to keep them cool and hydrated during the hot days, such as:

  • providing large hats and long sleeves to protect them from the harsh sun
  • hiring extra crew to ensure there’s enough people for everyone to have a good break
  • having a safety talk about heat and dehydration at our meetings we have prior to shifts starting
  • supplying gallons of water – some days we’ve even brought in ice blocks!

So far, around 80,000 tonnes of AC20 and AC14 asphalt have been laid on the Expressway. We expect to use a further 50,000 tonnes before we apply the final layer of asphalt - EMOGPA (Epoxy Modified Open Graded Porous Asphalt).

At the other end of the Expressway, north of Ōtaki, we’ve just finished earthworks in the Bridge 1 area (Waitohu Stream Bridge). The temporary SH1 road diversion in this area will stay in place to carry SH1 traffic until the Expressway opens, after which time it will be removed. Our team is also working hard to complete the remaining earthworks in the Ōtaki Gorge Road Bridge area and this will be followed by the last of our earthworks on Winiata Link Road. More about earthworks on the PP2Ō project are in the story below.

Great progress has also been made with streetlight and wire rope barrier installation. Once finished, the Expressway will be illuminated by 107 streetlights along the main alignment and approximately 33.4 km of wire rope barriers will be in place along the shoulders and median strip.

If you need any further information, please visit our website www.nzta.govt.nz/pp2o, call us on 0800 PP2O INFO or email pp2o@nzta.govt.nz

Ngā mihi
Chris Hunt, Project Director

 

Image

Drainage work alongside Winiata Link Road.

 

Earthworks on PP2Ō

We’ve been incorporating appropriate erosion and sediment controls as a vital part of our earthworks for the project. This is necessary because earthworks activities can cause exposed surfaces to erode which produces sediment and dust - these can pollute waterways and harm our aquatic flora and fauna.

Measures include:

  • silt fences
  • diversion bunds fitted with floating decanting devices
  • erosion protection such as mulches, grass and geotextiles.

Read more

 

Bridge 7 - Ōtaki Gorge Road.

 

Harakeke harvesting

Recently, we had the pleasure of witnessing a harakeke hauhake - flax harvesting - on the project area (shared in the video above).

Harakeke is an important fibre plant to Māori. Different species are grown for their strength, softness, colour and fibre content. This beautiful fibre can be used for a multitude of purposes and weaved in a variety of ways to make clothing, mats, plates, baskets, ropes, bird snares and fishing. The harakeke flax also has many medicinal uses, with the leaves and root juice often used as dressings and to sterilise wounds.

Read more

 

 

We're seeking your ideas for a time capsule!

Much of what we know about our history has come from artefacts that tell stories of our ancestors. If you could leave a piece of Ōtaki to be discovered by future generations – what would it be?

Read more

 

 
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Northern area.

 

Upcoming construction milestones

  • Deep lift asphalt paving to be completed by the end of April 2022.

Read more

 

 

More information

 
 

For more information on the Peka Peka to Ōtaki Expressway, contact us at 0800 7726 4636 or email pp2o@nzta.govt.nz

Visit our website www.nzta.govt.nz/pp2o