The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has announced that public consultation on proposals for the Peka Peka to Otaki Expressway will begin on Monday 7 February 2011.
The public consultation period will run for six weeks until Friday 18 March 2011 and will incorporate Expo/Open Days as well as presentations and meetings with stakeholder groups and local residents.
NZTA Central Regional Director Jenny Chetwynd said the presentation of the proposals for the expressway is an important milestone for the project and will give the community the opportunity to have their say about the NZTA’s route proposal.
“This consultation period will give the community the chance to learn about the route proposal, ask us questions about how they might be affected, and to have their say. Hearing the community’s views is hugely important to us, and we encourage people to participate in the consultation process.”
The 13km Peka Peka to Otaki Expressway route runs from Peka Peka Road in the south to Taylors Road just north of Otaki. The route has been identified as one of eight sections in the Wellington Northern Corridor (Wellington Airport to Levin) road of national significance requiring improvement to ease congestion and improve travel time reliability for local road users and the national travelling public.
The Government has identified seven essential state highways projects that are linked to New Zealand’s economic prosperity. Called the roads of national significance, or RoNS for short, the NZTA is charged with substantially completing this programme of state highway improvements within the next 10 years. The RoNS programme represents one of New Zealand’s biggest ever infrastructure investments.
The seven RoNS projects are based around New Zealand's five largest population centres. The focus is on moving people and freight between and within these centres more safely and efficiently. Other RoNS may be added in future but currently from north to south the seven projects are:
More information is available at www.nzta.govt.nz/rons(external link)
