Frequently asked questions

Melling transport improvements

What are the Melling transport improvements?

The Melling transport improvements will provide a safer, more resilient and accessible transport system in Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai - Lower Hutt.

It is a Major Crown Investment Project and Road of Regional Significance (RoRS) that will see the delivery of:

A new grade separated interchange (removing the existing traffic lights and separating through traffic on the state highway/local roads)
New and improved walking and cycling paths.
Better connections for Tirohanga and Harbour View Road residents and businesses.
Better access to public transport (with relocation of the Melling train station and park and ride facilities).

Why are transport improvements at Melling needed?

We know the existing traffic lights on State Highway 2 are congested and unsafe. With around 40,000 journeys through this intersection every day, it’s imperative we progress with the new interchange to make this inter-regional link safer for everyone.

Through these transport improvements, we will create safer journeys for all road users, improve access between Lower Hutt and the state highway, provide better access to quality transport choices, and improve security and availability of road network.

Are the Melling transport improvements still going ahead?

Yes. NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi is progressing the Melling transport improvements element of Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi through the alliance with AECOM and Fletcher Construction.

This project is at the Interim Project Alliance Agreement phase (IPAA) and involves NZ Transport Agency working with the Alliance to review the project’s design, plan how it will be built and find opportunities to improve value for money. Completion of the programme’s IPAA phase, including market testing of cost estimates, is needed to establish what final design, construction method and cost will be.

The IPAA process is planned for completion in late 2024. We anticipate Melling transport improvements to start once the design and a Project Alliance Agreement are finalised.

How do the recently announced delivery changes affect the Melling transport improvements?

Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi programme partners agreed to and announced an alternative delivery model for the construction of components of Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi in March 2024.

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi is progressing the Melling transport improvements element of Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi through the Alliance with AECOM and Fletcher Construction.

Read more about the delivery changes announcement:
https://teawakairangi.co.nz/news-2/te-awa-kairangi-partners-adopt-alternative-delivery-programme/(external link)

This project is at the ‘Interim Project Alliance Agreement’ phase and involves us working with the Alliance to review the project’s design, plan how it will be built, and find opportunities to improve value for money.

The IPAA process is due to be completed in late 2024.

How much are the Melling transport improvements likely to cost?

This project remains in an Interim Project Alliance Agreement (IPAA) phase, which involves a detailed review of the consented design, defining of scope, construction method, and costing.

We can’t confirm the overall cost for the Melling transport improvements at this stage due to commercial reasons. Completion of the IPAA phase, including market testing of cost estimates, is needed to establish what the project’s estimated final cost to complete will be.

Is the project on target?

We know that people want to see construction start as soon as possible. Taking time now to work through the design will help ensure we can deliver the best value for money/outcomes.

The revised design is expected reduces the construction timeframe and complexity of construction due to the reduction in cut slope retaining walls.

However, completion of the programmes IPAA phase, including market testing of cost estimates, is needed to establish what final design, construction method, and costing will be.

We anticipate the Project Alliance Agreement to be finalised at the end of 2024, with construction on the transport improvements set to begin in 2025.

Has the design changed? If so, what are the benefits?

Yes. As part of ongoing design reviews within the Interim Project Alliance Agreement (IPAA) phase, the original consented design for SH2 Melling Interchange has been reviewed to identify where improvements could be made.

This type of innovation and improvement is normal practice of the ‘Interim Project Alliance Agreement’ (IPAA) phase, where NZTA works with the Alliance (a collection of design and construction companies) to review the project’s design, plan how it will be built, and opportunities to improve value for money.

The new proposed design was identified to be more efficient, safer, and will provide better outcomes for all users.

Benefits for road users

Building a grade separated interchange between through traffic on State Highway 2, and those travelling to/ from Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai – Lower Hutt and the Western Hills will enable more efficient travel during peak periods to help move people and freight along smoothly.
Enabling higher volumes of traffic to safely flow through the interchange.
Improved safety for all road users by:
- Removing the existing conflicting right-hand turn movements to and from the state highway northbound.
- Reducing the risk of accidental wrong way movements down the off ramps, an improvement over the previous design.

Benefits for pedestrians and cyclists

Wider shared path on the southern side of the new bridge over SH2 (4.5m wide).
Wider shared path on the southern side of the new Melling Link bridge of Te Awa Kairangi / Hutt River (4m wide).
The revised design reduces the number and length of pedestrian crossings at the interchange when travelling between Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai / Lower Hutt and the Western Hills, improving safety, and helping traffic move along more efficiently.
Cyclists travelling from the Western Hills to Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai / Lower Hutt can also cycle on a 1.5m shoulder on the northern side of the new bridges over SH2 and Te Awa Kairangi / Hutt River, allowing faster Hutt City bound cyclists to stay on the road.
SH2 cyclists can connect to a new dedicated off road cycle path and then join Te Ara Tupua cycleway.

Benefits for public transport users

Relocation of the Melling train station and park and ride facility.
Improved bus connections.
safer walking and cycling connections to the city centre and Western Hills, plus links to Te Ara Tupua.

All of these improvements present a significant opportunity for increased use of the Melling train line and safer, more efficient journeys for all users at Melling.

What’s different between the previous consented design and the revised concept design?

The consented Melling interchange design was a diamond interchange at SH2 south of the existing intersection, which linked to the intersection at Queens Drive and Rutherford Street via the new Melling River Bridge.

The revised concept is a partial cloverleaf design and uses loop ramps for traffic coming off the state highway which enables the traffic joining the state highway to run on the same signal phase. These intersections are beneficial when needing to accommodate a high volume of conflicting right hand turn movements.

Will the updated design cost more than the original design?

The new design is currently estimated to be more affordable than the original design. This is based on a smaller bridge footprint, reduced number and size of retaining walls, less vegetation clearance and slope cuts in the Western Hills, and construction timeframes.

This type of innovation and improvement to a design is normal practice in this phase of a programme. Final cost and construction staging information is commercially sensitive until a full review of all the elements of the programme is complete.

We can’t confirm the overall cost for the Melling transport improvements at this stage for commercial reasons. Completion of the IPAA phase, including market testing of cost estimates, is needed to establish what the project’s estimated final cost to complete will be.

Why are you moving the Melling train station south instead of extending the rail line further north?

The Melling station needs to be moved to facilitate construction of the new interchange and road bridge.

Does this design still allow for the train line to be extended at Melling?

The design allows for the railway line to be extended north in the future however, the construction of this is not within the scope of the Melling transport improvements project.

Is the walking and cycling bridge included in the transport improvements?

Hutt City Council is working to deliver the city link bridge (linking the railway station with the city centre) through Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi Alliance.

Alliance

Who is delivering the Melling transport improvements?

The Melling transport improvements (part of Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi) will be delivered by Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi Alliance (made up of AECOM and Fletcher Construction).

What is an alliance?

Alliances are increasingly used to deliver complex and challenging design and construction of major infrastructure, especially where the risks are unpredictable and are best managed collectively.

In this environment there are also opportunities for joint problem solving and innovation, often resulting in more affordable and efficient delivery of projects.

The NZ Transport Agency has a good track record of working alongside more than 40 alliances on projects including:

Te Ara Tupua shared pathway
The Waterview Tunnel
Memorial Park undergrounding of State Highway 1 in Wellington, and
Te Ahu a Turanga – the Manawatū Tararua Highway.

What specifically will be delivered by the alliance?

NZ Transport Agency will continue to progress the Melling transport improvements through Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi Alliance (made up of AECOM and Fletcher Construction). This includes

a new grade-separated SH2 Melling interchange
a new Melling Bridge over Te Awa Kairangi / Hutt River, connecting the interchange to the Lower Hutt city centre
relocating the Melling train station and its park and ride facilities
new and improved walking and cycling paths.

Note: There may be other components that the alliance will deliver on behalf of NZ Transport Agency, and Greater Wellington Regional and Hutt City councils, such as where the bridge, stopbank, and local roads all meet.

Other components of Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi will be delivered by the respected partners.

What is the Interim Project Alliance Agreement?

The Interim Project Alliance Agreement (IPAA) was signed in May 2023 and is where we work with the alliance (a collaborative team of design and construction companies) to review the project’s design, plan how it will be built, and agree on the cost. This allows innovation in the design and helps us find opportunities to improve value for money.

While this phase has taken longer than originally anticipated, it’s important to take the time to get the IPAA phase right to ensure cost, scope and design decisions are fully informed and made on the best evidence available and reducing risk for all parties.

Once the IPAA phase concludes and the final cost and construction approach is agreed, the programme will move into the PAA phase.

Mana whenua

Will NZTA continue to work with Iwi/Mana Whenua?

Yes. As well as working with the Alliance, we’ll continue to work with mana whenua to ensure outcomes of this project benefit iwi, our local community and the environment. This includes weaving in the cultural narrative of Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi.

What does the name Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi stand for?

The name of the programme and alliance is Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi, which translates to The Soothing Waters of Te Awa Kairangi.

The name, along with the supporting cultural narrative, was gifted by Kura Moeahu, iwi leader of Te Āti Awa and Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika in April 2023.

The narrative surrounding the creation of Te Awa Kairangi, is strongly connected to the greater narrative of Te Ara Tupua. The valley formed out of the whipping and lashing tail of Ngake as he broke free from a landlocked lake, where he lived with Whātaitai, to form Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Wellington Harbour.

The name chosen for the programme acknowledges the nurturing and caring of the kuia (ancestresses) Hine-wai-tōtā, Hine-kōrako and Hine-wairere to gently heal and soothe the scar Ngake left on Papatūānuku (earth mother). To this day, they continue to nurture and care for her.

Te Awa Kairangi, like many rivers began its life through the kuia, being the ancestress of condensation, lunar droplets and water flow gathering on the many peaks on both sides of the valley, running off the land and following into the cracks and crevices within the landscape. The many small tributaries joined together, growing larger forming the collective mass of Te Awa Kairangi, flowing every second of the day.

The name is a reminder of the importance of caring for the river, the land, and the environment. A healthy environment is vital to the health and wellbeing of our community.

Construction

When is construction set to begin?

Completion of the programmes IPAA phase, including market testing of cost estimates, is needed to establish what final design, construction method, and costing will be.

We anticipate construction on the transport improvements to begin in 2025.

What will be done to manage disruption in Lower Hutt during construction?

We’ll do our best to plan for and manage as much disruption as possible. However, some disruption during construction of key infrastructure is inevitable.

We’ll continue to work with Greater Wellington Regional and Hutt City councils, Mana Whenua, local residents, businesses and community groups in the lead up to and during construction. We’ll also look at and learn from other complex projects that are being delivered across the country.

Updates and information will be shared in advance to ensure everyone is kept informed and know what’s happening and when.

We thank you in advance for your patience as we complete this project.

How will people walk and cycle around the area during construction?

There will be changes to walking and cycling around the city during construction. Some areas will need to be temporarily closed to keep everybody safe. Walking and cycling will be even more important, as there will also be impacts to some of the city’s parking areas. We’ll make sure that we’re communicating changes so people know the alternative routes they can take.

If possible, we’ll provide temporary walking and cycling routes, and open new routes as soon as practical, so that everyone can keep moving around the city.

Have you removed properties on Daly, Marsden, Pharazyn and Mills Streets just to build an interchange?

No. The majority of properties that have been demolished are to make way for the upgraded stopbanks, which are critical flood protection infrastructure required to safeguard Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai - Lower Hutt community and other critical infrastructure from severe weather events.

The properties are also required for new roads and the new Melling train station.

Planning and environmental

Does the updated Melling interchange design need to be reconsented?

No. The revised concept interchange design remains within the designation boundary. An Outline Plan of Works will be prepared and submitted to Hutt City Council for the revised design.

Are there more environmental impacts from the revised Melling interchange design?

The revised design has less environmental impacts by reducing the amount of vegetation clearance and slope cuts in the Western Hills, alongside fewer retaining walls and a smaller bridge footprint. Removing the existing Melling Link Bridge also supports improvements to flood protection for the city.

Programme

What is Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi?

For more information about Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi, please visit the programme’s website – www.teawakairangi.co.nz(external link)

Who are the programme partners?

Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi – The Soothing Waters of Te Awa Kairangi – is a partnership of iwi Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika and Ngāti Toa Rangatira, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Greater Wellington Regional and Hutt City councils.

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