The next phase of work for the Ōtaki to north of Levin Road of National Significance (RoNS) is now underway following the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) signing interim alliance agreements with two design and construction teams.
The alliance teams will each deliver a section of the 24km four-lane expressway and associated works, with Downer, McConnell Dowell, Beca and Tonkin+Taylor focused south of the Ohau River, and Fulton Hogan, HEB, WSP and Aurecon focused to the north.
Transport Minister Simeon Brown welcomed the milestone and says the expressway will allow people and freight to move quickly and safely.
During the last five years, 72 people have died or been seriously injured along the route, making it one of the country’s most dangerous sections of road to drive.
“Ōtaki to north of Levin is a crucial part of the Wellington northern corridor started by the previous National Government in 2013. It builds on the success of Transmission Gully, and the Mackays to Peka Peka and Peka Peka to Ōtaki Roads of National Significance.
“Once completed, the Ōtaki to north of Levin Expressway will dramatically improve journey times for those travelling within and though Kāpiti and Horowhenua, with up to 15-minute travel time savings for trips from Ōtaki to north of Levin, and six minutes for trips from Ōtaki to Levin.
“Building the Roads of National Significance signals our focus on prioritising investments that deliver real value to commuters and businesses, ensuring our cities and regions are well-connected and our economy thrives,” Brown says.
NZTA infrastructure delivery regional manager Rob Partridge says with two alliances there has been a lot of work done over the past few months to establish a “strong and collaborative foundation” to set the project up for effective delivery.
“This marks the beginning of a new chapter for the project, setting up the team that’s needed to build the new highway.
“The four-lane expressway will dramatically improve safety and resilience for those travelling within and through Kāpiti and Horowhenua, supporting the growing population with improved and more reliable travelling times,” Partridge says.
In 2020, central government committed $817 million towards the construction of the four-lane highway but the total estimated cost is now around $1.5b.
National Road Carriers chief executive Justin Tighe-Umbers says the latest announcement is another positive sign that the Government is getting serious about roading and infrastructure.
“Investment in our road network needs to happen at pace to help New Zealand unlock it’s true economic potential.
“More efficient freight routes are intrinsically linked to higher productivity and with our economy facing some significant head winds at the moment, everything the Government can do to get things going is a win.
“The signing of these agreements gives the contractors the certainty they need to invest in the resources needed to deliver these large scale projects. This is exactly the kind of certainty NRC has been calling for,” Tighe-Umbers says.
Construction of the new highway is anticipated to begin in late 2025 and be completed in 2029.
