Express CONNECT – April 2022 | NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi

Kia ora

Welcome to the April edition of the PP2Ō Expressway construction update – Express Connect.

This month’s change in traffic light settings sends a strong signal from the Government that we’re moving back to some normality in our lives and, despite the fact we had over 40 of our workers on the construction site self-isolating at some point in recent weeks, we’re celebrating another fantastic month on the project. While it’s great news that the country is moving to ’orange’, we at PP2Ō still have controls in place to manage the Health and Safety of our staff and visitors, as well as ensure good progress is made on the Expressway.

Paving is the big focus for the PP2Ō Expressway team at the moment and, if you drive along SH1 often, you’ll notice the significant progress our asphalt crew has been making. As of this month, we’ve laid 94% of the AC20 asphalt and 68% of AC14 asphalt. Both AC20 and AC14 are components of the Expressway’s 175mm structural paving, also called deep lift asphalt, which are the first two layers of asphalt before we apply the ‘icing on the cake’ i.e. 25mm of EMOGPA (Epoxy Modified Open Graded Porous Asphalt). After we finish the AC20 and AC14 on the main alignment, the focus will shift to asphalt works at the tie-ins, ramps and bridges over the winter period.

We’re planning to lay a small section of EMOGPA next month to ensure we’ve got our methodology nailed down before the winter months set in (roughly June through to August), with the remaining sections scheduled to be laid in the spring (September onwards). The cold and wet winter weather prevents the laying of thin surfaces such as EMOGPA due to low ground/air temperatures which pose a risk to the quality and durability of the product during placement.

This month, we’ve laid more than 100,000 tons of deep lift asphalt on the main alignment.

The Peka Peka to Ōtaki Expressway will provide a safer, more resilient, and efficient route between Wellington and the North, once complete.

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

Ngā mihi,
Chris Hunt, Project Director

Winiata Link Road progress

Construction work on Winiata Link Road is progressing well. The new road will provide access to residents with properties backing onto the road, as well as access to the renowned kilns. A well-known local landmark, the historic kilns were used by the late acclaimed potter Mirek Smíšek. In 2019, the kilns and a nearby brick chimney were carefully dismantled and moved a short distance east of their original location, safely out of the way of the new Expressway. Since then, they’ve been carefully reconstructed and are now at the centre of a move to establish an arts centre in Ōtaki.

Winiata Link Road is currently on target to be completed in early September but there is still a lot of work to be done. At present, we have three separate disciplines working together on site. The drainage crew is working on the pipework, while the structures crew is building a custom-made headwall (a wall located at the end of a culvert or drainage pipe) for the culverts. Once the drainage and the headwalls are complete, safety fences will be installed on the culvert headwalls for pedestrian protection.

Also on site is the earthworks crew working on the sub-grading for both the road and the swales (shallow ditches that help drain stormwater away) before handing the job over to the paving and landscaping teams.

The earthworks in the swales will tie into our new stormwater infrastructure. Once the earthworks are complete, our paving team will work on the granular paving and final surfacing down Winiata Link Road. Traffic fixtures such as signage will follow, as well as landscaping and line marking. The road will need to pass a road safety audit before opening to the public.

Our team is on track to complete Winiata Link Road in a safe and timely manner, and we look forward to opening it for the community.

PP2Ō in numbers

If you’ve missed any of our recent newsletters, here is a summary of the Peka Peka to Ōtaki Expressway project in numbers:

PP2Ō is a four-lane expressway stretching approximately 13 kilometres from Peka Peka, north of the Kapiti Expressway, to north of Ōtaki township.
Ten structures have been built as part of the Expressway – nine bridges and one pedestrian/cycle underpass opposite Makahuri that will provide a passageway under the Expressway for cyclists and pedestrians to continue their journey on the shared path.
107 streetlights have been installed to illuminate the main alignment and approximately 33.4km of wire rope barriers will be in place along the shoulders and median strip.
Approximately 3,600,000 cubic metres of earth has been moved for the construction of the Expressway.
More than 50 permanent culverts have been installed under the Expressway in addition to roadside drainage pipes.
Six new wetlands have been created along the Expressway as part of the ecological mitigation across the project (i.e. they reduce the impacts of flooding by absorbing rain), as well as the existing Makahuri Wetland being enhanced.

We're seeking your ideas for a time capsule!

Submissions are open for items to be placed in the 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?

PP2Ō is seeking ideas for items to be included in a time capsule which will be placed underneath one of the Interchange Gateway Sculptures (gifted to the community as part of the project). The time capsule theme is ‘Your Ōtaki – what Ōtaki means to you’. This includes contemporary views, historic documents and artefacts that provide insights into how Ōtaki came to be, the place it is today and what it means to the community. Think broadly!

Anything placed in the time capsule must be dry and non-perishable, so items made from materials like paper, plastic and glass may work best.

If you would like to submit an item to be considered for the time capsule, please email pp2o@nzta.govt.nz.

Upcoming construction milestones

Northern area update

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

Central area update

Winiata Link Road to be fully completed by early September 2022.
Wire rope barriers along shoulders and median to be completed by the end of September 2022.

Southern area update

Deep lift asphalt pavements to be completed by the end of April / early May 2022.
Wire rope barriers along shoulders and median to be completed by May 2022.

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Express CONNECT – April 2022