Express CONNECT – June 2022 | NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi

Kia ora

Welcome to the June edition of the PP2Ō Expressway construction update – Express Connect.

Well, they promised a winter and it’s certainly started with a flurry on the Kāpiti Coast. This month has really seen mother nature test the design and construction of the expressway’s stormwater drainage system. While the wild winds and torrential rain from the recent storms were difficult for our construction crews to manage, on the bright side it was a great test of how the system copes in stormy weather. The extensive system of new swales, culverts and wetlands stood up well. We even managed to survive a mini-tornado which crossed the expressway, although some of the trees on an adjacent paddock didn’t fare so well.

By the time this newsletter is published, we’ll have almost all the AC20 asphalt and 83% of the AC14 asphalt in place - these are components of the Expressway’s 175mm structural paving. There’s nothing too scientific about the numbers - AC20 contains 20mm diameter aggregate (stone) in the mix, with AC14 consisting of 14mm diameter aggregate. The icing on the cake is the EMOGPA, the top layer of asphalt. Despite the bad weather, we did get a small window of opportunity to lay about 350 tonnes of EMOGPA in late May to test our methodology before this work starts in earnest in spring. Early results from the testing carried out are looking really good with a smooth surface achieved.

This month we also had our two ticket winners take one of three sold out Steam Incorporated Expressway train trips on 5 June. Congratulations to Bruce Henderson (a member of our Community Liaison Group) and Andy Fraser (principal of Ōtaki College) - we hope you enjoyed the trip! We certainly enjoyed sharing more information about the project with those who were onboard.

For further information on the project please visit our information centre (which has updated photos and a brochure to take away), visit our website www.nzta.govt.nz/pp2o(external link), or call us on 0800 PP2O INFO or email pp2o@nzta.govt.nz.

Ngā mihi,
Chris Hunt, Project Director

Progress on street lighting and safety barriers

Core samples of the asphalt layers being taken across the expressway:

Significant progress is being made on street lighting and barriers. Barrier completion for the southern part of the expressway is 60%, central 64% and northern 3%. Completion of barrier works overall is 43% and will progress rapidly once the structural asphalt has been completed.

Over 32,600 metres of safety barriers have been installed along the main alignment of the expressway, excluding local roads.

Signage installation provides landmarks along the expressway indicating on and off ramps:

Steam train offers passengers unique view of expressway

About a thousand people got to check out the Peka Peka to Ōtaki (PP2Ō) Expressway from a steam train at Queen’s birthday weekend.

Three steam train trips ran between Paraparaumu to Manakau on the Sunday, with members of the PP2Ō team onboard to point out key features – such as new bridges, a shared path, plantings and wetlands, safety barriers and lighting – along the way. Passengers also saw how the asphalting of the road is progressing, with most of the bottom two layers now in place.

“It was great to have so many people take up the opportunity to see the progress we’ve made on this road,” Waka Kotahi Principal Project Manager, Glen Prince, says. “We got lots of positive feedback about how the expressway is shaping up and excitement about the road being opened.”

Peka Peka to Ōtaki Expressway steam train trip (video produced by Ōtaki College students)

Community education starts for on and off ramps

This month several community meetings were held to update the public on the project. A key focus is on the changes that motorists will experience getting onto the expressway via the new on and off ramps and how to best access the Ōtaki township.

“Getting on and off the expressway correctly will be really important for the community to understand,” says Chris Hunt, Project Director. “We know it’ll take a while to break old habits, so to help motorists as best as possible, we’ve produced a new brochure - with a map showing how to use the on and off ramps - available from our information centre.”

The information centre is located at 216 Main Highway Ōtaki and is open 9-5pm Monday – Friday, Saturday 9am-4pm and Sunday 10am-4pm.

View/download larger map [PDF, 167 KB]

PP2O Information Centre located at 216 Main Highway Ōtaki:

Time capsule artefacts - keep them coming in!

David Galt and Liam Jennings of Mowbray Collectables have donated a set of the latest New Zealand coins to place in the expressway time capsule. The set was produced by the Royal Numismatic Society of New Zealand and is the latest full year set of New Zealand’s circulating coins, dated 2019. The coins are the 10 cents with the koruru (mask), 20 cents (Pukaki carving), 50 cents (Endeavour), one dollar (kiwi) and two dollars (kotuku or white heron). All show the Ian Rank-Broadley image of Queen Elizabeth II.

David and Liam were part of a team from the Society which assembled the sets on 22 May, so they’re fresh off the shelf. The Society is the national organisation for coin, banknote and medal specialists and collectors.

Mowbray Collectables is a long-established Kāpiti business based in Ōtaki and is New Zealand’s only specialist coin and stamp auction house. It has been in business for 57 years, enough time to see the business transformed from small-scale trading to the international, online business it is today.

If you’d like to suggest an item to be considered for the time capsule, please email pp2o@nzta.govt.nz

Liam Jennings (left) and David Galt (right) show the coin set (far left) included in the capsule.

PP2Ō Expressway team supports men's health

This month the team supported men’s health week with a healthy takeaway breakfast for staff held at the Ōtaki Racecourse. 109 staff attended and started their day in the right way with fruit, probiotic drink, health bar and oats!

Upcoming construction milestones

Northern area update

Deep lift asphalt paving to be completed by the end of August 2022.

Central area update

Winiata Link Road to be fully completed by early September 2022.
Wire rope barriers along shoulders and median to be completed by the end of September 2022.

Southern area update

Deep lift asphalt paving to be completed by the end of June/July 2022.
Following this, the wire rope barriers along shoulders and median to be completed by July 2022.

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Express CONNECT – June 2022