The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) will begin public consultation on proposals for the Peka Peka to Otaki Expressway on Monday 7 February 2011.
The consultation, which will incorporate two Project Open Days as well as presentations and meetings with stakeholder groups and local residents, will run for approximately six weeks until Friday 18 March 2011.
All Kapiti Coast district residents will receive a consultation brochure from this Saturday which will include a form to provide feedback on the proposals for the expressway. In addition, a Project Open Day will be held in Otaki on 12 February and also in Te Horo on 17 February. The open days provide an opportunity for people to meet the project team, learn more about the proposals, ask questions and provide feedback in person.
All of the public consultation material will also be made available on the project website www.nzta.govt.nz/pp2oproject(external link).
NZTA Central Regional Director Jenny Chetwynd said the consultation period will give the community the opportunity to find out more about the proposals and to have their say.
“Public consultation is an important part of the investigation phase of this project and we encourage residents and interested groups to participate in the consultation process as their feedback will help result in a better outcome for the community and all users of the expressway.”
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)
