Guy welcomes progress on SH1 Otaki to Levin
Otaki MP Nathan Guy has welcomed the start of progress on SH1 between Otaki and Levin, with NZTA inviting tenders for preliminary work today.
“Locals know there are many safety concerns on this section, including narrow poorly aligned bridges and other accident black spots.
“Over the last five years there have been 59 serious or fatal crashes on the stretch of road between Paraparaumu and Levin.
“I’ve campaigned strongly on improving our roads and I look forward to working with NZTA and the community on this project.
“An important issue will be ensuring that any proposed alignment has decent access to Levin businesses, making it easy for locals and shoppers to get on and off the expressway.
“The expressway offers Horowhenua a huge opportunity with improved journey times, attracting businesses and people to move here - creating more local jobs.
“We need to keep building up visitor numbers to the Horowhenua as a destination in its own right too. Already we have the Te Awahou project developing in Foxton and good shopping in Otaki and Levin.
“Ultimately Levin will be a one hour drive to Wellington's CBD and Horowhenua could easily become the gateway to the Wellington region at the start of the expressway.
“This investigation stage will take some time to gather the necessary data before any route options can be presented to the public.
“NZTA have a considerable workload in the region with the Kapiti expressway and Transmission Gully, which has recently had the consent process fast-tracked.
“This route is part of the Levin to Wellington Airport Road of National Significance, a $2.2 billion project.”