- Kia ora
- Installation of the last culvert on PP2Ō
- Bridge 9 opens for construction vehicles
- We're seeking your ideas for a time capsule
- Upcoming construction milestones
Kia ora
Welcome to the first PP2Ō Expressway newsletter of 2022. I hope you had a restful time over the festive season, hopefully with family and friends enjoying the great weather we’re having.
PP2Ō’s work programme for 2022 is well underway. After the Christmas break, we were straight back into work on the 5th of January, and signs of paving progress are already visible in the southern part of the project area. We’re in the process of placing the first two layers of asphalt, AC20 and AC14, between Bridge 9 (Makahuri Rail Overpass) and the southern tie-in at Peka Peka. This should be completed by late March.
The asphalt team is also working hard to complete:
- the sub-base layer of the paving north of Bridge 1 (Waitohu Stream Bridge), as well as between the Ōtaki River Bridge and the southern interchange on and off ramps
- the remaining deep-lift asphalt before we can lay the third and final layer of EMOGPA (Epoxy Modified Open Graded Porous Asphalt) along the main part of the Expressway.
In addition, installation of streetlighting and wire rope barriers are continuing along the Expressway.
We look forward to sharing our monthly updates with you during 2022 via this newsletter. If you haven’t subscribed yet, please sign up for these updates by emailing us at pp2o@nzta.govt.nz with your name and physical address.
If you need any further information, please visit our website www.nzta.govt.nz/pp2o(external link), call us on 0800 PP2O INFO or email pp2o@nzta.govt.nz.
Ngā mihi,
Chris Hunt, Project Director
Installation of the last culvert on PP2Ō
After constructing over 50 permanent culverts (in addition to roadside drainage) along the PP2Ō Expressway, we’ve finally completed Culvert 1 - ironically the last one to be built on the project.
Culvert 1 is a multi-plate corrugated steel pipe (CSP) arch culvert measuring 43.80m long, 3.713m wide and 2.420m high. In drainage systems, CSP provides years of durability, easily withstanding the weight of heavy traffic.
Located at the northern end of the project area, Culvert 1 carries the flow of the Wai-o-rangi (Greenwood) Stream, which flows under the existing SH1 and Taylors Road. This stream is classified as intermittent, which means that the stream can cease to flow overland during dry periods. Due to the need to keep SH1 fully functional and to minimise disruption to Taylors Road during the construction of Culvert 1, the culvert was constructed in two main stages. This included a number of temporary stream diversions and temporary culvert installations to ensure the stream could flow during the works.
The first stage of Culvert 1 construction was completed in October 2020, with the second stage completed in December 2021. At this time, the whole culvert became fully operational. Culvert 1 has been embedded into the ground and has had substrate material placed along its base. This helps to keep the flow of water on top of the substrate which allows fish to pass through the culvert during low-flow conditions.
A total of 42 fish were salvaged and relocated prior to any stream disturbance through the multiple stages of the culvert construction. They included twenty eel, six kokopu and sixteen koura.
Aerial view of Culvert 1.
Ecologist Claire Bullock relocating the fish.
Bridge 9 opens for construction vehicles
With Bridge 9 (Makahuri Rail Overpass) now open for our construction vehicles to drive across, this marks another fantastic milestone for the project. For the community, it’s also beneficial as it reduces construction traffic on the already busy local roads and causes less disruption from traffic management and road sweeping.
From a project perspective, we’re now able to drive the full length of the Expressway without having to use the local roads and SH1. This means we’ve shortened the distances we need to transport our materials and our asphalt trucks can now drive from our asphalt plant in Ōtaki all the way along the Expressway, making our project even more efficient.
Bridge 9 is now open for construction vehicles.
We're seeking your ideas for a time capsule!
Submissions are open for items to be placed in the time capsule.
Much of what we know about our history has come from artefacts that tell stories of our ancestors. If you could leave a piece of Ōtaki to be discovered by future generations – what would it be?
PP2Ō is seeking ideas for items to be included in a time capsule which will be placed underneath one of the Interchange Gateway Sculptures (gifted to the community as part of the project). The time capsule theme is ‘Your Ōtaki – what Ōtaki means to you’. This includes contemporary views, historic documents and artefacts that provide insights into how Ōtaki came to be, the place it is today and what it means to the community. Think broadly!
Anything placed in the time capsule must be dry and non-perishable, so items made from materials like paper, plastic and glass may work best.
If you would like to submit an item to be considered for the time capsule, please email pp2o@nzta.govt.nz.
Upcoming construction milestones
Northern area update
- Expressway earthworks to be completed north of Bridge 1 (Waitohu Stream Bridge) by the end of January 2022 (not including the later removal of the temporary section of SH1).
- Deep-lift asphalt pavement to be completed by the end of April 2022.
Central area update
- Winiata Link Road to be fully completed by September 2022.
- Wire rope barriers along shoulders and median to be completed by the end of September 2022.
Southern area update
- Deep-lift asphalt pavement to be completed by late March 2022.
- Wire rope barriers to shoulders and median completed by May 2022.
