Ōtaki to north of Levin update – April 2023

Waka Kotahi, Muaūpoko Tribal Authority and local hapū of Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga 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.

Construction is due to start on the Pukehou turnaround location on Wednesday 26 April.

SH1 Ōtaki to Ohau safety improvements construction update

Construction of the next stage of safety improvements on SH1 near the Pukehou rail overbridge is due to start next week. This is in addition to the work currently underway at the existing rest area south of the Forest Lakes hill.

Contractor Downer will start construction on the Pukehou turnaround location on the northbound side of SH1 on Wednesday 26 April. This work is expected to take six weeks to complete, depending on weather conditions.

While work is underway, a temporary road layout will shift both lanes to the east to ensure traffic can continue to flow. The northbound shoulder will be closed, and a 50km/h speed limit will be in place 24/7 for the duration of this work.

The construction team will be working between 7am and 5pm.

This is the second of three turnaround locations planned for this stretch of SH1 to start construction. Construction is continuing on the southern turnaround at the existing rest area south of Forest Lakes Road and work is due to be finished by the end of April, weather permitting.

Once the Pukehou turnaround construction is complete, Downer will also be constructing another turnaround at Gleeson Road, as well as side and median barriers. It is currently expected all work will be finished by October 2023. See the map below for the planned works.

Also on State Highway 1, maintenance nightworks at Ohau near the Marsden Terrace intersection are due to start on 1 May. Work will take place at night under a stop/go for two weeks, finishing Friday 12 May, weather permitting. SH1 will be open in both directions during the day under a temporary speed limit for the duration of this work.

Elsewhere on the network, residual repair work on State Highway 57 at the Arapaepae/Kimberley Road intersection is planned for the coming weeks.

Members of the public learn more about the new highway at the Levin project office open day in Feb 2023.

Levin project office open day 27 April

The Ōtaki to north of Levin project team is hosting a project office open day in April for those who want to know more about the new highway, shared user path and current state highway safety improvement projects

We’ll have members of the team on hand to answer your questions about the new highway, what it’ll mean for moving around the area, and what it’ll be like to have the new highway in your neighbourhood.

Please join us:

Thursday 27 April, 12noon – 6pm

Our events give you a chance to meet with us face-to-face. If you have questions between events, you can email us at O2NL@nzta.govt.nz or phone 0508 625 4636.

Following our April event, we will next host an open day at the project office on Thursday 1 June.

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.