The New Zealand Transport Agency has welcomed the positive and constructive feedback on proposed changes to State Highway 1 on the Kāpiti Coast following community consultation.
Senior Manager, Project Delivery Chris Hunt says that staged construction work to turn SH1, from Poplar Avenue to Peka Peka Link Road, back to a local road will get underway in April 2018.
“The proposed changes include a single traffic lane in each direction, on-road cycle lanes, intersection improvements and new road layouts in Paraparaumu and Waikanae town centres,” Mr Hunt says.
“Ultimately this section of SH1 will become a local road and the Kāpiti Coast District Council will take over responsibility for it. So it’s been very pleasing so many people who live near the road and use it frequently took the time to have their say during recent consultation. This feedback was constructive and supportive, and it will help shape the project.”
Since the M2PP Expressway opening in February 2017, the 13.5km section of what is currently State Highway 1 is no longer required to function as a state highway. The process of removing the existing SH1’s state highway classification is known as 'revocation'.
As part of the consultation process: the 263 property owners and residents along the section of SH1 have been notified; open days and information drop-in sessions in Waikanae and Paraparaumu were also held.
“The Mackays to Peka Peka Expressway has led to traffic volumes through the old route dropping by around 55 percent, according to traffic surveys. People are also utilising the well-connected cycleways along the M2PP Expressway, the local road network and the Waikanae River Trail,” Mr Hunt says.
Further consultation on specific issues is planned for early in the New Year. This is unlikely to delay a start to a staged construction of the proposed work from April 2018 to early 2020.
Further information on the project is available at: www.nzta.govt.nz/M2PP-revocation
