Construction has begun on the 24-kilometre Ōtaki to north of Levin (Ō2NL) section of State Highway 1, a project the Government says will cut congestion, improve safety and unlock growth across Horowhenua and the lower North Island.
Project modelling points to evening-peak savings of up to 15 minutes from Ōtaki to north of Levin and about six minutes from Ōtaki to Levin once the road opens.
The current Kāpiti highway carries up to 19,500 vehicles a day, and the new expressway is intended to improve reliability for commuters and freight while supporting the district’s housing growth. Completion is due by the end of 2029.
Ō2NL is the next link in the Wellington northern corridor after Transmission Gully, Mackays to Peka Peka and Peka Peka to Ōtaki, which the Government says have already reduced travel times and improved safety.
“Breaking ground on Ō2NL is a huge moment for Horowhenua and the lower North Island. This expressway will cut congestion, improve safety, and give farmers and freight a more reliable route. It will also support the housing growth the region is experiencing,” transport minister Chris Bishop says.
Bishop says the project responds to long-standing crash and delay issues on the corridor and credited local MPs Tim Costley and Suze Redmayne for their advocacy.
Freight productivity boost
Road freight group Transporting New Zealand welcomed the progress, pointing to gains from earlier projects in the corridor.
“Recently an Infrastructure New Zealand report revealed that other major transport projects in the Wellington region — Transmission Gully and the Kāpiti Expressway — are already saving people time and money while reducing deaths and serious injuries,” Transporting New Zealand chief executive Dom Kalasih says.
“Quality roads unlock economic productivity. Transmission Gully, the Mackays to Peka Peka and Peka Peka to Ōtaki expressways saved society $173 million dollars last year. These benefits are felt by the public, by freight operators and emergency services,” Kalasih says.
Transporting New Zealand say upgrading this network is crucial given the region is expected to grow by 200,000 more people and 99,000 homes over the next 25 years.
The group also wants the transport agency to ensure value for money as estimates have risen since 2020.
