- Kia ora
- Ōtaki Gorge Road and detour
- Preparing for a traffic switch
- Bridge 8 at Te Horo Beach Road blessed and in operation
- Upcoming construction milestones
Kia ora
The first quarter of 2021 is nearly behind us and, despite a COVID-19 scare in Auckland, we have come through the start of the year relatively unscathed. In fact, we’ve been making really good progress on the PP2Ō Expressway project this summer. We’ve started laying asphalt in the section of expressway just north of Te Horo Bridge (Bridge 8) and we are slightly ahead of schedule for the new Ōtaki Gorge Road / State Highway 1 (SH1) intersection. Let’s hope the rain holds off for as long as possible so that the excellent progress can continue.
Work on Bridges 9 and 10 is progressing well, and every day I drive past it, I can see the footprint of the expressway becoming clearer. We started laying asphalt north of Makahuri (formerly Marycrest) at the beginning of March, with all the asphalt being delivered from our mobile plant in Ōtaki. Within the first three days we’d laid 1200 tonnes of asphalt and by day five we’d achieved our daily target of 800 tonnes, which is impressive going. By the time the expressway is complete we will have laid more than 100,000 tonnes of asphalt.
Over the next couple of months, you will see our landscaping team in full swing as they make the most of the planting season. Last season’s plantings have shown good growth, and the recently relocated Phoenix palm at the Ōtaki River Bridge seems content in its new home.
I acknowledge the disruption that a major project like PP2Ō creates on peoples’ lives day to day. Please rest assured that we always listen to your feedback and do everything we possibly can to mitigate any inconvenience. It’s great when we get positive feedback, so I really appreciate the supportive comments we’ve been receiving from the community recently. On behalf of the entire team working on this exciting project – thank you.
Stay safe, until next time.
If you need any further information on the PP2Ō Expressway project, please call us on 0800 PP2O INFO or email pp2o@nzta.govt.nz
Ngā mihi
Chris Hunt, Project Director
Ōtaki Gorge Road and detour
Looking north along the new Ōtaki Gorge Road / SH1 intersection.
There is excellent progress being made on the new Ōtaki Gorge Road / SH1 intersection, with the project coming in ahead of schedule after week one. Hopefully the weather continues to play ball and doesn’t cause any major disruptions so we can continue to make good progress.
The opening of the Te Horo Beach Road overbridge (Bridge 8) has also received many compliments from motorists who are pleased they no longer have to turn right from School Road across a busy SH1.
On a more concerning note, some people have been putting themselves and others at risk by failing the obey the traffic management rules that are in place. We have received several complaints of people removing cones and/or driving between the orange ‘safe-strike posts’ to make a right-hand turn across SH1. This behaviour isn’t just incredibly dangerous – it’s against the law, and anyone caught doing it could find themselves receiving a fine of up to $2000. Several people have told us they find this behaviour unsettling and it makes them fearful.
The traffic management rules are in place for one reason – we want everyone to be safe while using the roads. Please respect the rules and look out for one another.
Preparing for a traffic switch
It’s not an easy job preparing to switch traffic onto a new section of road, especially if you want the move to go seamlessly and safely. When it came time to close Ōtaki Gorge Road and open the new Te Horo Beach Road overbridge (Bridge 8), our Traffic Management Team got to work.
Our team was busy right through the night removing the original road markings, diverting traffic, re-marking the roads and erecting new barriers and signs – all while keeping disruption to an absolute minimum.
Watch here to see the team hard at work.
Bridge 8 at Te Horo Beach Road blessed and in operation
Before the bridge opened to traffic, whanau beneficiaries of Te Puti-Winiata Whanau Trust, the previous owners of the land that Bridge 8 has been constructed on, placed a whakātea karakia (blessing) on the bridge and School Road extension. They were accompanied by the project team and members of Ngā Hapū o Ōtaki.
As an area where people have lived for several hundred years, the land has a long history, the blessing acknowledged the history of the area, its ancestors, and all those who have lived on the land. The karakia also includes a spiritual element to protect and safeguard those travellers who will be using the bridge.
PP2Ō project Kaiarahi, Rawiri Rikihana explains the significance of the karakia in the video below.
The land, Ngakaroro 1A6C, has been held in ownership by the Te Puti-Winiata whanau since 1881 after it was awarded to their ancestors (including Moroati Kiharoa and his son Puti Moroati) by the then Native Land Court. The land, as part of the wider Ngakaroro block, had been occupied by Raukawa since their arrival in Horowhenua.
During an emotional blessing, kawakawa leaves were placed on the bridge as a symbol of healing and acknowledgment of their loss of tuku iho taonga (treasure that has been handed down). Whanau shared memories of homemade horse racing tracks and favourite swimming holes that they will long recall when crossing under or over Bridge 8.
The opening of the single-lane, two-way bridge was timed to coincide with the temporary closure of Ōtaki Gorge Road and allows traffic to travel safely between Te Horo Beach Road and School Road without needing to access SH1. The project team has received many compliments of the views from the bridge, as people enjoy taking in both the scenery and progress on the expressway.
Upcoming construction milestones
Northern area update
The 11-barrel culvert beside Bridge 1 over the Waitohu Stream.
Construction of a temporary 500-metre section of SH1 has begun to the east of the expressway alignment. This will be completed and opened to traffic in the second half of May, and the new section of Taylors Road is also scheduled to open for local traffic. Drainage and ITS installation are nearing completion through much of the section between SH1 / Rail Bridges and the new Ōtaki River Bridge, with work on subgrading and pavements beginning later in the autumn.
Central area update
Asphalt is being laid from Ōtaki Gorge Road to Gear Road.
In conjunction with the opening of School Road and the Te Horo overbridge, Ōtaki Gorge Road (OGR) was temporarily closed at the beginning of March for 11 weeks. Works are in full swing with the OGR partial interchange and remaining 15000 m3 of earthworks (which will link the northern section of the expressway to the central section) progressing well. The settled weather through February and March has allowed good progress on both fronts. Asphalt pavement construction commenced early in March towards the southern end of the central section and will move steadily north towards the OGR partial interchange over the coming months.
Southern area update
Traffic flows over the new Te Horo bridge.
The last of the large transverse culverts are substantially complete, allowing access from Makahuri through to the southern (Peka Peka) end of the expressway. Remaining earthworks, carriageway drainage and ITS installation will continue through to the end of Autumn with pavement construction expected to commence in late-May. Abutment works to Bridge 9 (Makahuri) are approximately 60% complete, with the precast bridge beams to be placed over the railway line in May. The shared path between Te Kowhai and Te Hapua roads has progressed over the last period and it will be opened once all the boundary and fencing works through this section are completed.
