Expressway Alliance good for community

The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) welcomes the Kapiti Coast District Council’s (KCDC) commitment to work together with the agency and the private sector to achieve a successful outcome for the Road of National Significance between MacKays Crossing and Peka Peka and for the Kapiti District.

In December 2009 the NZTA Board announced the selection of the Sandhills (Western Link) route as the preferred corridor for the Kapiti expressway route, a key part of the Wellington Northern Corridor.

“We’re delighted that KCDC has signalled that they are prepared to join the MacKays to Peka Peka Expressway Alliance,” said Deborah Hume, NZTA Wellington Regional Director.

“Having the council as part of the alliance will ensure that the community is an integral part of the project. This will enable the best outcome for the community and for the wider region, and we’re looking forward to ongoing engagement with the council and their full involvement.”

Currently the NZTA is holding a tender process to select a design consultant and construction contractor, both of which will also become alliance members. The tender closes on 9 March 2010. NZTA is expecting to announce the preferred tenderers by mid-April, with a contract signed by July 2010.

The aim of the alliance is for NZTA, the council, designer and contractor to all work together to achieve the best results for the project

“The establishment of a roading alliance to design and construct the expressway allows us to overlap project phases and get on with delivering this important project much faster. The alliance approach allows us to work with our partners to deliver major projects with greater speed and innovation.”

“One of the first steps will be to agree on project objectives,” said Dr Hume.

“Following agreement on the project objectives, the alliance will undertake further investigation to finalise the alignment of the route along the general Western Link corridor. This will also include the number and location of the interchanges.

“The alliance will also need to do further work to designate a four-lane highway along this corridor as the current Western Link Road is only designated as a two-lane local road. Further community consultation will occur as part of this process.”

Dr Hume says NZTA understands the Kapiti community is keen to know what is planned, when things will happen and whether their properties will be affected by the expressway.

“As part of the detailed design work undertaken for the expressway, the alliance will develop Land Requirement Plans. These plans will identify exactly which properties will be affected by the expressway. As Land Requirement Plans are developed, NZTA will engage with directly affected landowners.

“In the meantime, any property owners or other members of the community who believe they will be directly affected by the expressway can contact the NZTA on 04 894 5200.”

For more information see http://www.nzta.govt.nz/network/projects/wellington-northern-corridor/

ENDS

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