We are almost at the end of a very long process exploring options around access for vehicles to Waikawa Beach. HDC received 446 submissions and officers have prepared a report with Recommendations for Councillors to consider at their meeting on 20 March 2024. See the Agenda item. There is also a 98 MB PDF you can download for easier reading. The report offers 3 choices for Councillors to consider: no vehicle access at all, or two ways to pause proceedings.
Freshly painted southbound right turn lane. Finally the fresh road markings have been put in at the intersection of Waikawa Beach Road and SH1 (on Thursday 07 March 2024). It’s taken ages and many people have been concerned, with northbound vehicles overtaking at the intersection. Perhaps the road markings will make a difference? Many thanks to the Waikawa News reader who took these photos and allowed me to use them.
Drivers have been very concerned lately that since NZTA completed work on the SH1 and Waikawa Beach Road intersection fresh road markings have failed to appear. It now feels even less safe to turn into or out of Waikawa Beach Road, especially as northbound drivers now swing out to overtake those turning left into Waikawa Beach Road. Also, there are no clear markings for people trying to turn out of Waikawa Beach Road to head south.
Driving south yesterday I was surprised to notice a 100 Kph speed sign a bit north of Forest Lakes. It seems the road between there and the Expressway is now 100 Kph in both directions. That should shave a second off a trip. Meanwhile, many residents are annoyed that the intersection of SH1 and Waikawa Beach Road still doesn’t have fresh road markings since the work finished there a few weeks ago.
I received the following email today: We'd like to tell you about two public meetings this Saturday, 24 February [2024] to discuss the future of rail services for Levin and Ōtaki. We hope you can make whichever is most convenient. You are welcome to forward this invitation to others. The two meetings are as follows. 1pm at the Otaki Bridge Club (75 Aotaki St, Ōtaki) 4pm at the Andrew Room at Levin Uniting Communities Centre (87 Oxford Street, Levin) Ōtaki and Levin will have new, purpose-built trains before the end of the decade.
Turnaround by old Quarter Acre cafe. Source: the newsletter. From the Ōtaki to north of Levin update, January 2024 email newsletter: The Gleeson Road and Pukehou Rail Overbridge turnarounds are now complete Ōtaki to Ohau construction update The Ōtaki to Ohau safety improvement project is progressing well. Before the holiday break, contractor Downer installed all sections of median barrier and the majority of side barrier. The Pukehou Rail Overbridge and Gleeson Road turnaround facilities were also completed, with all three turnarounds now open.
The Waikawa Beach Ratepayers Association Annual Report 2023 (PDF) reveals that back in March and April 2023 Horowhenua District Council undertook a traffic count along Waikawa Beach Road: A traffic count was undertaken by HDC between March to April 2023. The average number of vehicles using Waikawa Beach Road daily was 932 with 10.2% of those being heavy vehicles. The average speed noted was 80.1 kph. This does not represent a significant increase in traffic since the last count.
New flexible median barrier on SH1 between Ōtaki and Ohau. Photo via Waka Kotahi. From the latest emailed Waka Kotahi newsletter: Up until 22 December, you’ll see construction crews onsite near Waikawa Beach Road … More detail: SH1 Ōtaki to Ohau safety improvement project Earlier this year, we began construction on the Ōtaki to Ohau safety improvements. This work includes sections of side and median barriers, painted wide centrelines and three turnaround bays.
I was wondering what had happened to the roadworks at the Waikawa Beach Road and SH1 intersection so I asked. The response from Kate at Waka Kotahi: I apologise that there have been some changes to the programme at Waikawa Beach Road due to unforeseen delays. I have just contacted our contractor Downer, who has advised that they are sequencing their work at Waikawa Beach Road, with WTA's resealing work which is due to start on Sunday evening [19 November 2023].
As of 01 November 2023 the whole length of Sarah Street has been resealed. For the next few days the street will be marked with 30 Kph speed signs. Please drive slowly and carefully while the chip beds in. In a few days the sweeper will clear away the loose shingle. After that, new road markings will be put in.
Waka Kotahi update 30 October 2023. I received an email today from the Ō2NL Project Team, O2NL@nzta.govt.nz about works that were due to begin Wednesday 25 October at the intersection of Waikawa Beach Road and SH1. This work has now been delayed: Due to unforeseen delays on work in other parts of the Ōtaki to Ohau safety improvement project, the work at Waikawa Beach Road that was due to start on Wednesday 25th October has had to be pushed out to start Monday 6th November.
I received an email today from the Ō2NL Project Team, O2NL@nzta.govt.nz about works to begin Wednesday 25 October at the intersection of Waikawa Beach Road and SH1. Downer will soon extend the side barrier between the Manakau Store and Waikawa Beach Road and install a footpath behind the side barrier which will extend to the store. They will also install a new concrete island in the northbound shoulder and widen the road north of Waikawa Beach Road, in preparation for the median barriers that will be installed at a later date.
There was a slight traffic delay on Monday 16 October 2023 as Electra replaced a power pole on Waikawa Beach Road near the start of the village. If you experienced a power cut, that would be the reason.
The map shows the planned works for safety improvements from Manakau to Ohau. Ōtaki to Ohau safety improvements construction update: we will soon begin construction on the next phase of the project, from Manakau to Ohau. This section of work includes stretches of median and side barriers and painted wide centrelines. We will also be working to make the intersection of Waikawa Beach Road and State Highway 1 safer. This work is expected to be complete this summer.
Planned changes to SH1 and Waikawa Beach Road intersection. Photo of a page available at the session. On Friday 08 September 2023 I attended a poorly advertised Waka Kotahi drop-in session held at Manakau School to discuss the next phase of safety improvement works from Manakau to Ohau. The information below reflects what I was told by someone called Wayne, as best I can remember and is not in any way my opinion.
At their meeting on 30 August 2023 the Horowhenua District Council voted for no speed limit changes at Waikawa Beach. Part of the rationale was that previous calls for speed changes had referred to seasonal problems, such as an increase in traffic over the Christmas period. It may be that HDC will look into the possibility of seasonal speed limit changes at all the beach communities. For the moment though, no change.
It’s been more than a year since bike stands were put in by the footbridge, but at long last road markings have been added. These should at least indicate to drivers that they shouldn’t block the stands. See Bike stands update, February 2023. 21 June 2022, driver blocks bike stands.
Map of Waikawa Streets shows affected areas. At their meeting on 30 August 2023 the Horowhenua District Council will discuss the potential changes to speeds around Waikawa Beach. See Give your opinion on Waikawa Beach speed limits by 21 August 2023 for details on the proposals. Read Horowhenua District Council Open Agenda 30 August 2023 (7 MB PDF) or at the Horowhenua District Council site. See Pages 13 and following.
According to Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency the speed limit on the Mackays to Peka Peka and Peka Peka to Ōtaki expressways could be lifted to 110 Kph in 2024. Waka Kotahi is working to see if speed limits can be increased to 110 km/h on the Mackays to Peka Peka and Peka Peka to Ōtaki expressways next year. Emma Speight, Director, Regional Relationships, says a speed management technical review is being done and the intention is to make a decision on speed limits for the expressways in early 2024.
The study about vehicle access to Waikawa Beach is slowly grinding along. In an update on 16 August 2023, Stephan Titze, HDC Parks and Property Project Lead | Kaihautū Kaupapa Papa Rēhia, Rawa, advised: The project team has finalized the ecological and geomorphological report with focus on the proposed potential new vehicle access. We are still in communication with Iwi and the landowner of the current vehicle access to receive feedback, advise and evaluate further options.
Those heading out to SH1 early on the morning of 17 August 2023 may have found themselves tangled up in a bit of traffic. Unfortunately at around 0645 a couple of vehicles crashed near Whakahoro Road north of Manakau, blocking the road briefly and then causing delays.
Horizons Regional Council is asking communities for their ideas on how public transport can connect the dots between communities living across and beyond our region. Horizons Regional Council want to hear what you think by 11 September 2023. We want people to tell us where they live, where they travel to and why they make those trips. We are also asking people to tell us how we should balance new spending against improved levels of services, and how we should prioritise passenger demand, the desire to cover large areas, and increasing services in line with an area’s population when deciding new routes.
Wire-rope median barriers are being installed this week between Taylors Road and the southern turnaround. Info from from Waka Kotahi in the July 2023 Update on the SH1 Ōtaki to Ohau safety improvement project: Construction of the Ōtaki to Ohau safety improvements continue to progress, with the first phase of works between Ōtaki and Manakau. This work includes three turnaround bays and stretches of median and side barriers. The southern turnaround at the bottom of Forest Lakes Hill is now open and work on the Pukehou Rail Overbridge turnaround and Gleeson Road turnaround is underway.
The Capital Connection now has 5 newly refurbished carriages that will be in service from next Monday (31 July 2023). According to Major upgrade for Capital Connection train service between Palmerston North and Wellington | RNZ News: More carriages are currently being upgraded locally at KiwiRail's Hutt Workshops with 11 in total eventually able be to be used.
Transport Minister David Parker said the refurbished carriages would tide the service over until brand new hybrid trains were brought onto the network within five years.
We have several speed bumps around Waikawa Beach, including three along Strathnaver Drive, one on Sarah Street and another on Drake Street. There’s also at least one in the streets accessed from the Emma Drive intersection. A recent rule change has given local Councils greater powers to add and remove speed bumps, along with cycle lanes and footpaths — after public consultation. The Land Transport Rule: Street Layouts 2023 comes into effect on 21 August 2023.