- Kia ora
- Ancient totara provides new opportunities
- The last bridge of the PP2Ō project is nearing completion
- Northern tie-in
- He tuna ora, he wai ora (healthy eels, healthy water)
- Upcoming construction milestones
Kia ora
With winter upon us, the expected disruptions to our construction programme are starting to occur; even so, we are still making good progress. We have completed placing the beams for Bridge 9 at Makahuri, meaning we can now start constructing the deck. Bridge 9 is the last bridge to be built on the PP2Ō project. It’s an exciting milestone, as once it is ready it’ll allow us to drive the full length of the project.
With the earthworks and bridge nearly complete, it is now very easy to see the footprint of the PP2Ō Expressway rising up beside State Highway 1.
Asphalt surfacing is also advancing in the area south of Ōtaki Gorge Road and the planting season is about to hit full swing. After a year of good growth last year’s plantings are looking really impressive, thanks to just the right mix of rain and sunshine.
We know there have been concerns raised regarding the Te Horo Beach Road/SH1 intersection. As a result, we have made a few modifications that have been received positively. We’ll continue to monitor this intersection and consider further modifications if needed. One challenge is that some of the issues are a result of high traffic volumes on SH1, which will only reduce when the new expressway opens. In the meantime, please let us know if there are any issues you would like to raise.
As you drive beside the new expressway, it is easy to see the immense progress being made. We hope to be a position very soon where we can provide an indicative timeframe for opening. You could say that there is light at the end of the tunnel for the local community.
Once again, I want to express our thanks to the community. We know the impact that a big construction project like this has on those who live nearby, and we appreciate your ongoing patience and support.
Stay safe, until next time.
If you need any further information on the PP2Ō Expressway Project please:
- visit our website www.nzta.govt.nz/pp2o(external link) (where you can sign up for digital updates),
- call us on 0800 PP2O INFO, or
- email pp2o@nzta.govt.nz
Ngā mihi
Chris Hunt, Project Director
Ancient totara provides new opportunities
In October last year the project team unearthed an ancient totara log while building the State Highway 1 diversion, south of the Ōtaki River Bridge. The log was recovered and presented to Ngā Hapū o Ōtaki.
Since then, it has been on quite a journey.
Firstly, Waka Kotahi, Fletcher Construction and Ngā Hapū o Ōtaki worked together to get the enormous log to a local miller in Manakau.
By January, the milling was complete and twenty-five slabs were returned to iwi. They’ll be used in a number of ways, including carving pou whenua, which could potentially be placed in wāhi tapu areas within the project, and some are currently being turned into seating to be used on local marae.
Ngā Hapū o Ōtaki has expressed its thanks to Waka Kotahi and Fletcher for helping to make this happen.
Retrieving the totara log
The totara slabs are returned to iwi
The last bridge of the PP2Ō project is nearing completion
The final bridge to be constructed by the PP2Ō Expressway project is Bridge 9 at Makahuri (formerly known as Marycrest) and, as of this month, all the bridge beams are in place.
Though the process might look easy, it’s a logistical challenge that requires great precision.
Each of the beams is constructed in Te Puke before being trucked by road to Ōtaki, where each one is craned into place on the bridge. Our structures team ensure these are placed precisely and ready for the next stages.
The team is currently working to complete the abutments and, once done, will begin to lay the deck. This is scheduled to be completed in late September.
The first beam of the last bridge being placed.
Northern tie-in
If you have travelled north of Ōtaki, near Taylors Road, you may have noticed our team hard at work building a temporary section of SH1. This will allow work to be carried out on the ‘northern-tie in’ - the point where the PP2Ō Expressway meets SH1 north of Ōtaki.
The transition point will be north of Bridge 1, which spans across the recently opened extension to Taylors Road.
Following our work to shift the Taylors Road/SH1 intersection, services including electricity and fibre have been relocated, and a piece of land to the east of SH1 is begining to take the shape of the temporary road.
The temporary diversion is currently expected to open in late July/early August, with the rainy weather having caused a few delays.
The Northern diversion and the new Taylor Road from the air.
He tuna ora, he wai ora (healthy eels, healthy water)
Those who have had the pleasure of driving on the new piece of Taylors Road may have noticed the artwork on the western side of Bridge 1, which spans both Taylors Road and the Waitohu Stream
The artwork is titled ‘Ngā Tuna o Raukawa’ (the eels of Raukawa), and tells the story of a healthy habitat for tuna. To the left of the tuna is raupō (bullrush), which traps sediment between its stems and absorbs nutrients through their roots, purifying the water it grows in. On the right-hand side of the artwork is the pepetuna moth and larvae. Pepetuna is a food source for tuna - its name translates to ‘eel moth’. The presence of the moth on riverbanks indicates the abundance of tuna, and tuna themselves are a traditional indicator of a healthy waterway.
Manaaki tuna (longfin eel) and piharau (lamprey) can still be found in Waitohu Stream. Both are so low in numbers that they require conservation intervention and are considered at risk. Manaaki tuna are one of the largest eels in the world and only found in New Zealand’s rivers and streams. They can be distinguished from the shortfin eel in several ways:
- its dorsal (top) fin extends further forward than its anal (bottom) fin
- it is dark brown/black in colour rather than the light brown/olive colouring of shortfin eels
- when bent, it has big, loose wrinkles
Also featured in the artwork are inanga, panoko (torrentfish), redfin bully and rainbow trout, all of which have been found in Waitohu Stream.
The stream is believed to have been named in the 14th century by Haunui-a-Nanaia (Hau), the great-grandson of Kupe. Hau is understood to have been responsible for naming many of the landmarks in the lower North Island while on a quest to find his wife, Wairaka, who had allegedly run away. Waitohu translates to ‘mark’ or ‘to signify’. At the time of Hau’s travels the Waitohu Stream, which flows from the Tararua foothills through to the Tasman Sea, was similar in size to Ōtaki River. The 1855 earthquake, which raised the Wellington coastline, eventually drained most of the coastal land and subsequently reduced the size of the Waitohu Stream.
While constructing Bridge 1, the project team had to alter the flow path of the stream several times to ensure it was not running through the work area and that we could protect it during the works. It has now been restored to a permanent alignment, close to where it originally flowed (keeping in mind the stream naturally shifts between banks).
Prior to this work our ecologists worked with the kaitiaki (guardian) of Waitohu Stream, Ngā Hapu o Ōtaki, to relocate fish and ensure the impact on stream inhabitants was kept to a minimum. Work will soon get underway to plant around the stream, which will enhance habitats and minimise erosion.
The bridge artwork is displayed over the new Taylors Road.
Upcoming construction milestones
Northern area update
Travelling the new Taylors Road under the Waitohu Stream bridge.
Work continues on the temporary SH1 section adjacent to Taylors Rd, while the new Taylors Road intersection opened as planned in early May. There are still some finishing works to be done, but these aren’t able to be completed until after the traffic switch to the temporary section of SH1.The weather and cold temperatures have slowed overall progress with pavements in this area, with the switch onto the temporary alignment looking more likely to occur in late July/early August. Pavement works on the northern section have continued, with sub-base now well established.
Central area update
Paving underway - Ōtaki Gorge Road to Gear Road section.
Ōtaki Gorge Rd re-opened on 28th April well ahead of the planned re-opening in mid-May. At the same time, the permanent closure of the School Rd / SH1 intersection and rail crossing went ahead as planned. Pavement and asphalt works are well underway through this central section of the expressway. The Mirek Smišek kiln relocation works are also advancing with the roof protection structure due to be completed by the end of May.
Southern area update
Landing the first beam of the last bridge – Bridge 9 at Makahuri.
The bridge beams to the Makahuri rail overpass (Bridge 9) started being delivered and placed at the beginning of May. Placement of all the beams will be complete by the end of May, when the deck and side barrier construction will then commence. The last of the expressway earthworks between Te Kowhai and Te Hapua Roads have been completed, with pavements expected to begin in June.
