- Kia ora
- PP2Ō – A bird’s-eye view
- Rāhui River Bridge is now open
- Rāhui Road Bridge open day and community barbecue
- Construction update
Kia ora
It was good to see so many of you take the opportunity to walk over the Rāhui Road Bridge at the open day on Sunday 24 November. I’m betting those who couldn’t make it on the day have had a drive over the new bridge since it opened on Saturday 30 November.
There are a number of other milestones to come before we all break for Christmas. Old Hautere Road is scheduled to open in mid-December and the northern end of the new local arterial road (LAR) at Marycrest will be completed before Christmas. To avoid damage to the newly sealed surface during the heavy holiday traffic, as well as the safety risks that increased traffic presents to our local community, the road won’t be opened for use until January 2020. A graphic showing the new LAR is pictured below.
I’d also like to thank those who have attended the Southern and Northern Neighbourhood Group and the Community Liaison Group meetings during the year. Your continued support is valued.
If you need any further information on the PP2Ō Expressway project, please call us on 0800 PP2O INFO or email pp2o@nzta.govt.nz
Ngā mihi
Andy Goldie, Project Manager
PP2Ō – a bird’s-eye view
The PP2Ō project has passed its half-way mark and though there’s still a long way to go before its 2021 opening; a bird’s eye view gives a clear indication of progress. The 12.5 kilometre stretch of Expressway extends from Peka Peka in the south, to Taylors Road in the north.
Rāhui River Bridge is now open
Derek Kelly and his children Augie and Olivia, were the first to use the shared pathway over the Rāhui Road Bridge when it opened to traffic on Saturday, 30 November at 9.26am.
Just before 9.30am on Saturday 30 November, the PP2Ō project achieved its latest significant milestone with the opening of the Rāhui Road Bridge to traffic, pedestrians and the local community.
On Saturday 23 November – well in advance of the opening – Tanira Cooper, along with Rupene Waaka and other members from Ngā Hapū o Ōtaki, led a karakia (prayer) of the new bridge to ensure safe passage and travels in the area.
Under construction for seven months, the Rāhui Road Bridge is the longest single-span bridge on the entire PP2Ō project. At 51.3m long, the bridge spans the expressway’s four lanes, two rail tracks and the shared path. Weighing 250 tonnes, the bridge also consists of five rows of 2m deep girders, 150 bracing members connecting the girders, all locked together with approximately 3,500 bolts.
There are nine major bridges on the expressway in total and an additional five bridges on the shared pathway.
The PP2Ō team that ensured the seamless opening of the Rāhui Road Bridge.
Rāhui Road Bridge open day and community barbecue
Around 300 people attended a community barbecue and a walk-over of the Rāhui Road Bridge on Sunday 24 November, giving them a chance to view the bridge and take in the magnificent views from its crest, before it opened to traffic on Saturday 30 November.
Comments from the attendees were positive, with many of our residents impressed by the size and scale of the new bridge. Most believed the bridge looked good and the views, stretching as far as the Ōtaki River Bridge and the foothills, were outstanding.
A colouring table was provided for the children to keep them entertained.
Construction update
North Zone (north of the Ōtaki River to Taylors Road)
The first vehicle to cross the newly opened Rāhui Road Bridge which opened shortly before 9.30am on Saturday, 30 November 2019.
Progress is being made on Bridge 1 which sits over the Waitohu Stream. All the sub-structure work on the bridge will be completed by Christmas. Once testing on the structure is complete, beam installation will get under way in January 2020.
The Rāhui Road Bridge has been completed and was opened to traffic on Saturday 30 November. Some work will continue in the area immediately surrounding the bridge, including the completion of landscaping and other tidy up works.
South Zone (south of the Ōtaki River to Peka Peka)
Bridge 9 construction is underway at Marycrest.
Considerable drainage and utility works has been carried out between Ōtaki Gorge Road and School Road. This will allow pavement work on this section of the Expressway to get underway from January 2020.
Road markings, signage, convex mirror and other enhancements for Old Hautere Road are nearing completion. This is in anticipation of the road being opened in mid-December
Foundation and sub-structure works are being carried out at Bridge 8 in Te Horo. These works are scheduled to be completed by Christmas. It is the second steel bridge to be built on the PP2Ō Project. The steel beams for the bridge will be delivered in January and lifted into place in February. The bridge connects east and west Te Horo.
The northern end of the new Local Arterial Road (LAR) being constructed at Te Horo is nearing completion. Though the work will be finished by Christmas, traffic won’t be switched to the new LAR until the New Year. This will give time for the new surface to cure, minimising the damage that can be caused to the surface from heavy traffic volumes immediately after it has been laid. This is particularly important during the summer holiday season where there is a high demand for travel in the Kāpiti Coast.
