Ōtaki to north of Levin update – October 2023

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.

The Ō2NL project was out in the community last week, speaking with local businesses about the different opportunities that might be available in the future through the new highway and shared user path. We also attended this year’s Future Pathways expo and had the opportunity to chat with local rangatahi about the many different career opportunities infrastructure projects like Ō2NL could offer. We have also reached a significant milestone with the release of a request for proposal for project alliance partners.

Work continues to progress on the Ōtaki to Ohau safety improvement project, with crews scheduled to begin work on the Waikawa Beach Road intersection. Our next project office open day will be Thursday 16 November. Come along to speak with the team.

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

Ō2NL providing opportunities for local businesses

The Ō2NL new highway project is striving to leave a positive legacy in the rohe and enable current and future generations to thrive.

One of the ways the Ō2NL project team is working to achieve this goal is by developing plans to maximise opportunities for Iwi/Māori and local businesses to be involved in the project.

Last week, owners from a variety of Horowhenua businesses attended a presentation co-hosted with The Horowhenua Company to learn about the different opportunities that might be available to them and how the project intends to help local businesses in areas they wish to develop.

To support the goal of providing opportunities for Iwi/Māori and local businesses to be involved, project partners Muaūpoko Tribal Authority and local hapū of Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga have been engaging with local Iwi/Māori businesses for some time to get an understanding of what support they might need for them to take part in construction of the highway and shared user path. 

Iwi/Māori and local businesses in the Horowhenua, Manawatū, and Greater Wellington regions with an interest in working on the project are being invited to complete a short online survey.

The information gained from the survey, along with insights already gathered by Iwi partners, will support us to get an understanding of the current market in the regions and to develop a plan for procuring sub-contractors, sub-consultants, and service providers, which will happen by early 2025.

Businesses can complete the survey by visiting nzta.govt.nz/o2nl-survey.

Take a look at what our project partners have to say about the market sounding exercise here.

The Ō2NL team speaking with local rangatahi at this year's Future Pathways Expo

Ō2NL project at the Future Pathways Expo

The project team attended the Future Pathways expo last week and had the opportunity to speak with local rangatahi about the many career opportunities that infrastructure projects like Ō2NL bring.

Supporting rangatahi is an important focus of the project, with plans in development for learning and work experience opportunities while construction of the highway is underway.

Infrastructure projects like Ō2NL require all sorts of different people, with different skills, to get the job done.

It was a great opportunity to speak with rangatahi about their aspirations and the wide variety of career pathways available to them in the infrastructure industry.

Next step towards construction for Ō2NL

At the start of the month the Ōtaki to north of Levin project released a request for proposal (RFP) seeking proposals for alliance partners, bringing us another step closer to a safer and more resilient State Highway 1.

Together with alliance partners, the Ō2NL project will continue to be led by the project principles of treading lightly with the Whenua and creating an enduring legacy.

We expect to name the two preferred proponents before the end of the year.

Alongside the procurement process the project team is continuing to work through the RMA consenting process, with the Environment Court hearing due to start on 24 October.

Construction of the new highway and shared user path is programmed for 2025 and completion is anticipated in 2029.

Work progressing on the Gleeson Road turnaround

Ōtaki to Ohau safety improvements project – construction update

Safety improvement works are continuing between Ōtaki and Ohau. This work includes stretches of median and side barriers, painted wide centrelines and three turnaround bays.

Contractor Downer recently began work from Manakau to Ohau and have installed side barriers north of Tatum Park and near Kuku Beach Road. Work is also progressing on the turnaround bays at Gleeson Road and south of the Pukehou Rail Overbridge.

The team will soon start work making the Waikawa Beach Road/State Highway 1 intersection safer. This work includes extending the side barrier between the Manakau store and Waikawa Beach Road and installing a foot path behind the side barrier. A concrete island will also be installed in the northbound shoulder, which will increase safety for vehicles waiting to exit Waikawa Beach Road. It does this by keeping northbound vehicles who are turning left into Waikawa Beach Road from moving into the shoulder, and so removing the risk of ‘vehicle shadowing’, which is where a left turning vehicle blocks the visibility for those exiting the intersection.

The construction crew will also be preparing the road for the stretches of median barrier which will be installed north of Waikawa Beach Road in the upcoming weeks.

The safety infrastructure improvements on this section of road are underpinned by the Safe System approach, which recognises people make mistakes, but these mistakes do not need to cost us our lives.

As we progress with this safety improvement work, and with the upcoming maintenance season, we will see more construction crews on the road. Please take care when driving through sites, following the traffic management signs that are in place to ensure the safety of both the construction crews and those travelling through.

You can read more about these safety improvements on our website: www.nzta.govt.nz/SH1-Otaki-to-Ohau

Upcoming road maintenance works for Levin

Summer roadworks season is underway and there are a number of resurfacing and resealing programmes planned for State Highway 1 (SH1) in Horowhenua.

Between October and December, there are four planned maintenance sites near and in Levin. To complete these works, some significant traffic management is required including road closures and detours. These works are weather dependent.

• SH1, Manawatū Bridge (Whirokino): Road maintenance works and flexible median barrier repair is planned from 30 October – 3 November. Crews will work between 9am – 3pm (Monday to Friday only). A southbound detour will be in place.
• SH1 / Queen St: Night-time asphalting will take place at the Queen St intersection, in Levin from 8 – 21 November, 6pm – 6am. A full closure and detours will be in place.
• SH1, Oxford St: Night-time asphalting will take place from 22 November – 5 December, 6pm – 6am. A southbound detour will be in place.
• SH1 / Hokio Beach Rd: Night-time asphalting works are planned from 6 December – 11 December, between 6pm – 6am. Stop/Go will be in place, with a closure on Hokio Beach Road.

We appreciate these works will cause some disruption for the community. We want to keep everyone moving through the area, however, we also need to undertake work safely and effectively.  Please keep up to date with roadworks and detours via Journey Planner: www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/journey-planner

Project office open day – Thursday 16 November

Our next Ōtaki to north of Levin project office open day is on Thursday 16 November from 12noon – 6pm.

Please join us at 171 Oxford Street, Levin to speak with the team about the new highway, walking and cycling path and the state highway safety improvement projects in your area.  Come and chat with the team if you have any questions.

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.

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