The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) is beginning preliminary work on improvements to State Highway 1 from North of Otaki to North of Levin, part of the Wellington Northern Corridor road of national significance. The NZTA is inviting tenders to undertake this work via the Government Electronic Tenders Service website from today.
NZTA State Highway Manager, Rob Whight said the work being tendered includes the investigation of options and preliminary design for the approximately 30km section of State Highway 1 between North of Otaki and North of Levin. This early phase of the project will include geotechnical, environmental, ecological, traffic, social and business effects, and landscape assessment.
“The preliminary work on the project includes investigating the development of a four-lane expressway between Otaki and Levin, investigating options for an alternative route for Levin and improvements to State Highway 1 to the north of Levin.
“Improving safety on State Highway 1 and reducing congestion, by improving the route are priorities for the Agency.
“As part of the Wellington Northern Corridor road of national significance, additional benefits from this work will include the reduction of travel time between Levin and Wellington Airport and economic growth for the area,” Mr Whight said.
Tenders will close the week commencing 25 October 2010. NZTA hopes to announce the successful tenderer for the contract before Christmas.
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)
