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.
Several small updates: Electra were trimming trees at the intersection of Walkers Lane and Waikawa Beach Road today. A couple of posts on Facebook in the last week have mentioned break ins or thefts. Remember to watch your own property as well as the properties around you. Report suspicious behaviour to the Police. 16 July 2023: ALERT Be aware there has been a break in Cathryn street Friday the 14th around 9 o'clock.
When we first arrived at Waikawa Beach 10 years ago locals had for some years been pushing Horowhenua District Council for reduced speed limits, especially over summer. Quite often the quiet roads are used by pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders of all ages who may mosey along fairly oblivious to traffic. After all, this is a quiet beach community. That request never gained any traction, but now change is on track, thanks to the Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed Limits.
On the latest Horowhenua District Council meeting agenda (19 July 2023) there is an ‘update’ on the study into beach access for vehicles as at 12 July 2023 (Page 140). The screenshot above shows no change from last time, so presumably Boffa Miskell are still consulting with iwi. These wheels are grinding very slow indeed. July 19, 2023 Council Ordinary Meeting HDC Agenda 45 MB PDF. See also: Update on the research into where a vehicle beach access, if any, should be located.
Otaki to Manakau safety improvements map. In response to the post Roadworks from Ōtaki to Ohau a reader asked about the three Turnarounds. I put the question to Waka Kotahi and received a useful reply. In brief: the turnarounds allow people to reach addresses along the way if they’re travelling from the ‘wrong’ direction. Median barriers will prevent some turns we might currently be able to make. The question: I still do not understand what these ‘turnarounds’ are for!
Southern turnaround facility is now open at the bottom of Forest Lakes Hill. The June 2023 Waka Kotahi Ōtaki to north of Levin update explains all the roadworks between Manakau and Ōtaki. Currently there are cones and speed restrictions along almost that entire stretch. Otaki to Manakau safety improvements map. Ōtaki to Ohau safety improvement work is underway, with the first phase of work between Ōtaki and Manakau. Three turnaround bays and stretches of median and side barriers will be installed between Ōtaki and Manakau.
Waka Kotahi have advised: We’re hosting Ō2NL Community Group meetings in Manakau and Levin next week. Please join us for an update on projects underway in the Ōtaki to north of Levin area including: Ōtaki to Ohau safety improvement works underway In December last year the Peka Peka to Ōtaki expressway opened, and permanent speed limit changes from Ōtaki to Levin were rolled out. Now the first stages of SH1 safety improvements, between Ōtaki and Manakau, is underway.
From the Ōtaki to north of Levin May 2023 newsletter: Ōtaki to Ohau safety improvement work is underway, with the first phase of work between Ōtaki and Manakau. Three turnaround bays and stretches of median and side barriers will be installed between Ōtaki and Manakau. This is expected to be complete next summer. These safety improvements are designed to transition drivers safely from the dual-lane, median separated highways from Wellington to north of Ōtaki, to the single-lane State Highway 1.
Post-Budget 2023 news on the Ōtaki to North of Levin (Ō2NL) highway: the Minister of Transport Michael Wood has at last confirmed the Ōtaki to North of Levin Expressway (Ō2NL) will be constructed. …
The project includes the construction of a four-lane expressway with a range of safety features, including median barriers, wider shoulders, and new intersections. Approximately 21km of a total 24km of the new highway is proposed to be built within the Horowhenua District.
Over recent weeks experts from Boffa Miskell have been talking to various individuals and groups about vehicle access to Waikawa Beach. They and HDC are exploring various options, including retaining the current access. I asked Stephan Titze, Parks and Property Project Lead | Kaihautū Kaupapa Papa Rēhia, Rawa, for an update to share with the community and he replied on 17 May 2023: Our experts from Boffa Miskell are working on the related ecological - and coast erosion report.
Good news for locals who enjoy riding around Waikawa Beach. Back in June 2022 a local resident asked the Horowhenua District Council if we could have bike stands at the Manga Pirau Street and north Reay Mackay Grove beach entrances. Recently those stands were installed. They’re not the same kind of stand as the one at the footbridge, but instead are the simpler kind you can lean your bike against and easily lock to.
There's an interesting section in the Horowhenua District Council Agenda for the 26 April 2023 meeting (link to 11MB PDF), Page 82 (my emphasis): Speed Management Plan Road Controlling Authorities across New Zealand are required under the Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed Limits 2022 to develop and consult on Speed Management Plans (SMPs). SMPs are how Road Controlling Authorities contribute to the new process for setting speed limits, they set out changes to speed limits over the next 10 years, and if accepted by the Regional Transport Committee and the Director of Land Transport, will come into force.
According to the Ōtaki to north of Levin April 2023 update: Contractor Downer will start construction on the Pukehou turnaround location on the northbound side of SH1 on Wednesday 26 April. This work is expected to take six weeks to complete, depending on weather conditions. While work is underway, a temporary road layout will shift both lanes to the east to ensure traffic can continue to flow. The northbound shoulder will be closed, and a 50km/h speed limit will be in place 24/7 for the duration of this work.
There is hope for a better train service for us with this week's announcement — Government green lights Lower North Island Rail: A fleet of 18 brand new trains for Wairarapa and Kapiti Coast: Increase capacity by approximately 1.5 million trips Time savings of up to 15 minutes on the Manawatū line Reduce over half a million tonnes of emissions Build resilience into the network The new trains will operate using a combination of electricity wires, batteries and fuel, lowering our carbon emissions and making New Zealand less reliant on volatile international energy markets RadioNZ added info in their item New fleet of trains for Kāpiti Coast and Wairarapa: The hybrid electric trains are to replace the current fleet of trains from the 1970s, and upgrades would also be made to the network.
Cars stopped across an intersection. Traffic jam at the intersection, SH1 and Waikawa Beach Road, 05 February 2018. Recently a couple of traffic counting cables have appeared on Waikawa Beach Road just outside the blueberry farm. I asked Horowhenua District Council what the count was for: Request Number: 222919/2023 Description of Request: in the last couple of weeks a pair of traffic counter cables has been laid across Waikawa Beach Road not far from State Highway 1.
From NZTA, 26 March 2023: SH1 OHAU Plan ahead for five overnights of multiple STOP/GO sites at Ohau River Bridge starting from TODAY, Sun 26 Mar for resurfacing (Dependent on weather and other factors). ^SG
News today from Waka Kōtahi: Construction is due to begin this weekend on the SH1 Ōtaki to Ohau safety improvement project. This work includes the construction of the new turnaround facility at the existing rest area at the bottom of Forest Lakes hill on SH1. Crews will be on site for nightworks on Sunday 26 and Monday 27 March, from 7pm to 5.30am, weather permitting. A stop/go traffic control will be required for nightworks while we make traffic lane adjustments so work can proceed safely at the rest area.
Workers on 01 March 2023 were resealing both sides of the road for a few dozen metres in the vicinity of Numbers 178 and 180 Waikawa Beach Road. That's a little bit west of the Blueberry Farm.
The HDC gave us bike stands by the footbridge in June 2022. They’ve been well-used over the summer.
However, the Roading Manager at the time promised road markings to make it clear to cars where not to park by the bike stands, and also further stands on Reay Mackay Grove and Manga Pirau Street.
Time has gone by, so I recently followed up, and received this response from the HDC Enquiries desk:
Update: after some reflection I suspect the expressions of interest were to hire someone to run consultation meetings.
Horowhenua District Council are having an ordinary Meeting on 01 February 2023. Interesting to note these two report items in the agenda at Minutes & Agendas - Horowhenua District Council (emphasis mine):
Page 166: “Council Actions Monitoring Report 2023 as at 25 January 2023 — ”Reference: 21/502
Resolution/Action: That the Chief Executive provide a full report on all options in respect of vehicular beach access at Waikawa Beach.
A recent visitor drew my attention to the broken street sign at the intersection of Sarah Street and Strathnaver Drive. I reported it to Horowhenua District Council and the sign has now been replaced. Unfortunately a rather large tree on the berm obscures the sign until you’re on top of it…
On Saturday 28 January 2023, Waka Kotahi are hosting presentations from technical specialists about the upcoming Ōtaki to North of Levin Expressway discussing: The RMA consents process Design of the proposed road, including local road connections Landscape and planting design Effects of Ō2NL and how these will be managed Speaker presentations run from 11.30am - 12.30 pm, or drop-in anytime from 11am to 2pm. The team will be available before and after, to answer any questions you may have.
Waka Kotahi have finally said:
The Peka Peka to Ōtaki Expressway will be fully open to traffic on Friday this week, 23 December [2022]! It’ll help alleviate holiday queues and delays on SH1.
Of course, now northbound traffic will bunch up north of Ōtaki, but with any luck lots of people will filter off at Ōtaki so it won’t be as heavy as previously.
They go on to say: