- Kia ora
- Archaeology Open Day
- Onsite with the PP2Ō Archaeology team
- Woodchips
- Preferred option for PP2Ō shared path announced
- Construction update
Kia ora
Welcome to the first PP2Ō Expressway newsletter of 2018, a year which will see the project really take shape. After the Christmas break we got straight back into work on Monday 8 January and already signs of earthworks progress are visible in several areas of the project.
We’ve started working on Bridges 2 and 3 to the north of Ōtaki and west of the current State Highway 1 (SH1) Bridge that crosses the railway track. We’re also doing preparatory work for the new 330-metre Ōtaki River Bridge and clearing sites in the south ready for earthworks later this year.
We’ll keep you informed of what we’re doing throughout the year via this monthly update, our e-newsletter which you can sign up to(external link) and through regular community meetings and events. The first event that might be of interest is an Archaeology Open Day on Saturday 10 February. More details on this below and we hope you can come along and find out how we handle the culturally-important issue of archaeological discoveries on PP2Ō.
Ngā mihi
Andy Goldie, Project Manager
Archaeology Open Day
Archaeology in action on PP2Ō
Members of the public are invited to an Archaeology Open Day on Saturday February 10. Discover how we approach sites of historical and cultural interest, what we’ve found so far and how we study the artefacts found during earthworks.
The Archaeology Open Day will be held between 10am and 2pm at 5 School Road, Te Horo, site of the former Matenga Moroati Homestead and one of the sites which was investigated last year ahead of construction getting underway.
The project team will stage a dig and display some of the artefacts found on sites across the alignment such as items from middens, old pottery, pipes and glass bottles. Small things can often tell big stories about our past so join Project Archaeologist Emily Cunliffe and some of the project Kaitiaki (iwi monitors) onsite to learn more. Demo and talks start at 10.30 and again at 12pm.
Onsite with the PP2Ō Archaeology team
Ōtaki College students' share an update from archaeological investigations onsite at Marycrest late 2017.
Woodchips
Mulch delivery to Tainui Marae in Ōtaki
There’s been lots of community interest in the logging activity we’ve undertaken, as we clear the site for the new expressway. Large piles of logs and woodchips have been created and are stored at strategic points around the project. People often ask what we are doing with them.
Some of the woodchips have been distributed to local marae and schools for them to use as mulch. The rest is being kept and used to suppress dust when construction activity is underway.
The logs will also be kept for chipping when we need mulch for landscape plantings later in the project. If they were chipped now the wood would rot, so it makes sense to keep the logs whole until we need to make use of them.
Preferred option for PP2Ō shared path announced
In late December 2017, the NZ Transport Agency announced a preferred option [PDF, 1.7 MB] for the shared path proposed to be constructed as part of the Peka Peka to Ōtaki (PP2Ō) Expressway.
In the recommended alignment, the existing Mackays to Peka Peka (M2PP) shared path south of the Ōtaki River will be extended along the western side of a new local arterial road to Marycrest. It then crosses to the eastern side of the new expressway, joining the proposed PP2Ō shared path at Ōtaki Gorge Road. The path continues northward, crossing the Ōtaki River on the new Ōtaki River Expressway Bridge. North of the Ōtaki River, it passes under and to the western side of the expressway through a large culvert, crossing under the rail corridor and joining the proposed expressway project shared path through the Ōtaki Rail Station.
Director of Regional Relationships Emma Speight says originally, cycling facilities were going to be designed, developed and included during the revocation phase of the project, and had been intended to run on what will be the old State Highway 1 once the expressway opens.
However, the success of the shared path built as part of the M2PP Expressway led to requests for a similar facility to be built as part of the PP2Ō project.
“Practically, design constraints unique to the PP2Ō project mean the pathway cannot be identical to the M2PP shared path. For example, the design is constrained by the land available to build on (the designation), which is much narrower than the land secured for M2PP.”
Key considerations for the shared path options included issues like safety, embankment slopes, connections to schools and recreation sites, the existing rail corridor and crossing, wetlands and Winstones’ operational work site.
In June 2017, the Transport Agency asked the community for feedback to help inform the route of the path. Armed with insights about how people in the area wanted to use the path, a series of indicative route alignment options were developed.
In October, three options were presented to more than 1200 people who attended community information days at Otaki and Te Horo. Ms Speight says feedback from the information days showed a preference for the proposed shared path to run east of the expressway from Marycrest to the Ōtaki River.
“This easterly option was preferred by the community because it offers better connectivity with more people living nearby. It offers views of mountains, and greater separation from the road, and is also safer due to the fact it includes fewer intersections and conflict points with traffic.”
Ms Speight says as the detailed design and final pricing process is completed, the Transport Agency will consider the funding case and confirm whether funding is available to build it.
The proposed path is still being considered for completion in line with the PP2Ō Expressway, in 2020.
PP2O shared path preferred option
Construction update
North Zone (north of the Ōtaki River to Taylors Road)
Earthworks continue for Bridges 2 and 3 (west of the current State Highway 1 (SH1) Bridge that crosses the railway track). Over the next couple of months we’ll also be busy with geological investigations, relocating access points into the Bridges 2 and 3 area, building the new bridge abutments and a haul road which will eventually become the northern interchange off ramp.
From the end of January the top terrace of Pare-o-Matangi Reserve will be permanently closed to the public while we work on relocation of the railway line in this area. We’ll also start relocating services (gas, power, telecoms, water etc.) around Rāhui and County Roads. This work will take several months and is due to be finished by the end of April ready for our structures team to begin work on the Rāhui Road Bridge. All local roads will remain open during the service relocation work with traffic management in place at times. For everyone’s safety please slow down around the works and allow a little extra time for your journey.
Works continue on the new Ōtaki River Bridge, including fencing off work areas, vegetation clearance and preparation for building the piles. A total of 18 columns will support the 330-metre new bridge. The public walkway will remain open at all times during construction of the new bridge but at times may need to be diverted.
South Zone (south of the Ōtaki River to Peka Peka)
Ōtaki Gorge Road and State Highway 1 intersection
We’ve introduced safety changes to the Ōtaki Gorge Road and State Highway 1 intersection. The speed limit on both roads has been reduced from 100km to 70km. These changes will remain in place for the duration of the Peka Peka to Ōtaki Expressway project. Again for everyone’s safety please slow down around the works and give yourself a little extra time for your journey.
In the south main works won’t really pick up until the second quarter of 2018. Until then the focus will be on clearing vegetation, house removals and demolition work.
