Higgins contractors have been out to patch parts of the tar seal on Reay Mackay Grove. In particular they've been restoring broken seal at the edges of the turnarounds at either end, though they might have filled a small pothole or two as well.
It hasn't been a good week to travel between Waikawa Beach and points north. Two days ago 5 people were injured after a big police effort to stop a vehicle that apparently started at Waikawa Beach. Five people injured in crash on SH1 near Ōhau, Horowhenua | Stuff: Five people have been injured in a crash on SH1 near Ōhau in Horowhenua. Police were responding to multiple reports or traffic offending from the Waikawa Beach area about 5pm on Monday [06 May 2024].
Ōhau crash: Detour via Muhunoa East Rd or Bishops Rd/ Arapaepae Rd South. From the Facebook page Traffic Updates - Horowhenua Kapiti Wellington: SH1 OHAU - GAS TANKER TRUCK ROLL - ROAD CLOSED UPDATE 8.20am - the road is going to be closed for quite a few hours as FENZ and Hazmat units come from Palmy and Wellington to deal with the delicate situation of a petrol tank full and upside down.
Fallow deer. Source: DoC A Hokio Beach motorcyclist was lucky that after hitting a deer at midnight he sustained few injuries, though his new bike was a write-off. The wild deer that jumped out in front of him wasn’t as lucky. The article below mentions that wild deer can be found on roads and even beaches (my emphasis): Wild fallow deer were more likely to be seen on New Zealand roads in autumn months like April and May.
Now Cancelled: roadworks at Manakau Rail Overbridge. I received a project email today that road works planned for 05 to 09 May 2024 at Manakau Rail Overbridge have been cancelled: We were previously in touch to advise of upcoming works at the Manakau Rail Overbridge for the Ōtaki to Ohau safety improvement project. The works required stop/go traffic management continuously over 4 days. Following further analysis of the traffic management plan, a decision has been made to cancel the works planned at the Manakau Rail Overbridge next week.
Waka Kotahi want to know our views on increasing the speed limit on the SH1 Kāpiti Expressway. Consultation closes Monday 20 May 2024. The proposal covers approximately 25 Km of road. Travelling at 100 Kph that takes 15 minutes. At 110 Kph it takes about 13.5 minutes. We’re proposing a new speed limit on the Kāpiti Expressway, from north of the Poplar Avenue at Raumati interchange to south of the Ōtaki northern interchange.
Stop/go traffic management in place at Manakau Rail Overbridge from Sunday 5 May 2024. The Ōtaki to north of Levin update – April 2024 from Waka Kotahi advises us about delays between Waikawa Beach Road and Ōhau from 8pm on Sunday 05 May to 5am on Thursday 09 May 2024: Plan ahead for stop/go traffic management at the Manakau Rail Overbridge from Sunday 5 May The Ōtaki to Ohau safety improvement project is now nearing completion, with all three turnaround facilities open and all side and median barriers installed.
Freshly painted (in March) southbound right turn lane. Back in January 2024 work at the intersection of SH1 and Waikawa Beach Road was finally completed, road resurfaced and (eventually, much later, in March) markings done. So it was a surprise on 02 April 2024 when workers scraped off the surface of the intersection agin. Over the next couple of nights they resealed it, and the road markings were either retained or replaced.
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.