- Kia ora
- Schools learn about crossing safely
- New State Highway 1 pedestrian crossing and Mill Road roundabout layout
- First Ōtaki river bridge beams placed
- Schools learn about crossing safely - Ōtaki College digital update
- Construction update
Kia ora
Lots of things are changing as work progresses on the PP2Ō Expressway project and this month’s edition is packed with information.
A major project milestone was reached this month when the first new Ōtaki River Bridge beams were placed on the columns that have been constructed on the south bank of the river.
The road marking on SH1 heading into the Mill Road roundabout will change soon and the pedestrian underpass will close and be replaced with a signalised pedestrian crossing just north of the roundabout.
It’s important motorists and pedestrians pay attention and slow down to ensure everyone is safe.
Shared pathway designs are also moving forward. You’ll find some detail below as well as finding lots more information on our website www.nzta.govt.nz/pp2o(external link)
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
Andy Goldie, Project Manager
Schools learn about crossing safely
Students, teachers and parents from Waitohu School walking the new pedestrian diversion rout in Ōtaki.
Children from local schools have been taken on a walking bus tour with a difference by the PP2Ō project team.
In total around 400 students from three local schools and kura, accompanied by teachers and adult helpers, were taken in groups of 30 pupils, on the safe route they must follow when the new signalised pedestrian crossing is created just north of the Mill Road roundabout.
The safe route going south between Waitohu School and Mill Road involves walking down County Road, along Rahui Road and up SH1 to where the new crossing will be situated. The crossing will be activated by push button lights similar to the signalised crossing at Arthur Street (see separate story below) and will replace the underpass.
Project Community Liaison Officer Dale Nahkla says the walking buses were a good way to get the safety message across.
“Safety is paramount and we wanted to get in early, before the pedestrian crossing is installed, to show the children, their teachers and whanau the safe way to get to and from school,” Dale said.
“The project team also gave the children a talk on site about the work being done at Bridge 3 plus a full Health & Safety briefing on why it’s so important to stay clear of work sites. Drivers in the high cabs of big machinery are not expecting to encounter visitors on site and are not likely be able to see children, so it is very important people understand the dangers and don’t cross the safety barriers.”
The walking buses were appreciated by teachers and children alike.
“On a beautiful Ōtaki day we all walked the temporary footpath plan from our school to Mill Road and back again. My thanks to Fletcher Construction for working so closely with us to make it possible to keep out tamariki as safe as possible by showing them this temporary walkway,” Principal of Waitohu School, Maine Curtis said.
"Big thanks also for making it an informative, fun and interesting walk by including information stops and explaining the amazing construction that is happening right on our doorstep. As a school community we have felt heard and responded to, thanks Fletcher Construction."
The project team has also distributed a digital update featuring a drone flyover of the new safe route. This was distributed in both English and Te Reo Māori to students and parents who didn’t make the walking bus tour. You can view this fantastic resource which was filmed and produced by our Ōtaki College student film crew in the digital update section below.
New State Highway 1 pedestrian crossing and Mill Road roundabout layout
What you need to know if you’re driving or cycling:
- A new signalised pedestrian crossing will be created just north of the Mill Road roundabout.
- Single-lane flow around the roundabout, similar to holiday weekends will be implemented 24/7.
What you need to know if you’re walking:
- The pedestrian underpass which currently connects County Road with SH1 will be permanently closed.
- Pedestrians are being temporarily diverted via County Road and Rāhui Road to the new crossing point.
- Once SH1 traffic is switched onto the new bridges later in the year pedestrians will be able to walk down the eastern side of SH1 to the new signalised crossing on a 3m-wide shared path.
Once traffic is using the new bridge, we will dismantle the old bridge and start to build the new rail track.
First Ōtaki river bridge beams placed
The first of 110, 33 metres long 33 metres long33 meter long bridge beams being placed on the new Ōtaki River Bridge.
A major project milestone was reached this month when the first new Ōtaki River Bridge (Bridge 5) beams were placed on the columns that have been constructed on the south bank of the river.
The operation was carried out in three stages, over three days to complete the span between piers 5 and 6.
Each beam is 32.5 metres long and weighs approximately 65 tonnes, and the placement was done using Fletcher Construction’s 250-tonne crane.
Project engineer Harry Singh says a total of 110 beams will be placed to create the bridge.
“We’ll have 11 per span over the ten spans, each about 33 metres long. Beams will be placed over one complete span in each operation.
"All the beams combined make up over 3600 metres in length, almost equalling the height of Mt. Cook or 360 lengths of a rugby field.
“Their weight equals that of almost 600 double-decker buses – about 7500 tonnes in total.”
Harry says that while the placement of the beams is not too difficult, the main challenge the team faces is the tight access to the river bank and bringing 110 very long beams off a busy SH1.
Schools learn about crossing safely - Ōtaki College digital update
Familiarise yourself with the recent changes to Ōtaki foot traffic north of Mill Road roundabout by following our drone flyover of the new safe route. This was distributed in both English and Te Reo Māori to students and parents throughout Ōtaki.
Construction update
North Zone (north of the Ōtaki River to Taylors Road)
Progress being made on Bridges 2 and 3 north of Mil Road roundabout in Ōtaki.
You’ll be seeing more activity between Taylors Road and Ōtaki Township as works on the new Waitohu River Bridge (Bridge 1) start up.
Construction continues on Bridges 2 and 3 (north-west of the Mill Road roundabout). This month we’ll be pouring concrete on the bridge decks followed by installing barriers and completing tie-ins to SH1 and County Road. Retaining walls on both the eastern and western sides of SH1 north of the Mill Road roundabout are underway. These will support the future new local road alignment.
The western footpath on SH1 in this area remains closed with pedestrians diverted via the rail underpass or via County Road. To keep pedestrians safe on County Road a temporary footpath has been created and vehicle traffic reduced to one-way southbound. From Wednesday 10 October a new signalised crossing will be introduced to SH1 just north of the Mill Road roundabout.
We’ve completed the first part of works on the western abutment of Bridge 4 (the bridge that will take Rāhui Road up and over the realigned rail track and new expressway). Ōtaki Railway Station platform extension works continue with platform works at the northern end underway.
Things are busy out there, so please slow down around all works and allow a little extra time for your journey.
South Zone (south of the Ōtaki River to Peka Peka)
Progress being made on culvert construction in Te Horo.
Construction of the new Ōtaki River Bridge (Bridge 5) continues on the south bank with new bridge columns and crossheads continuing to appear out of the river bed. Access to the south bank is restricted around our works. For everyone’s safety please observe all site signage and stay out of work sites.
Piling works are underway on the northern abutment of Bridge 5. The public river walkway on the north bank remains opens but is diverting people around our work site heading to the Chrystalls Bend walkway. The diversion is well sign posted and fenced for your safety and remains in place until around June 2019.
We’ve begun laying road basecourse on the new sections of Old Hautere Road and Ōtaki Gorge Road. We’re building the local roads first to make sure we keep people moving around the district. In Te Horo work continues on culverts, drainage and haul roads.
We’ve completed the relocation of overhead power lines between Te Kowhai Road and Mary Crest and now we’re into earthworks, which include building access tracks and haul roads for dumpers to move material through the expressway alignment.
We’re preparing to preload on the southern side of Te Hapua Road in late October. Preloading involves applying many layers of material on top of the existing ground surface to squeeze the water out of the peat below. Once the required level of settlement is reached the top layers of preload material are removed and the road pavement is applied.
