Ōtaki MP Nathan Guy has welcomed the call for tenders from NZTA on developing the Peka Peka to Ōtaki expressway.
“It is great to see things are moving quickly. This section will include four laning, a new bridge over the Ōtaki river and a bypass of the retail strip.
“The Ōtaki roundabout creates one of the worst choke points in the lower North Island during weekends and most public holidays. Traffic can back up all the way to Levin, causing real frustration for motorists and resulting in poor productivity.
“I look forward to working with NZTA and the community on this project, in particular to ensure the proposed interchanges allow retail shoppers and locals to easily access the expressway.
“I believe that Ōtaki has now become a very successful retail destination and shoppers will continue to visit with their credit cards.
“This section is an important part of the expressway from Levin to Wellington airport, which the government has identified as a road of national significance. Once completed, this will bring real economic gains to the region. It will also mean safer journeys and fewer tragedies on our roads.
“I’m looking forward to the announcement of the successful Alliance bid for the other Kāpiti section of the expressway with the McKays Crossing to Peka Peka section soon,” said Mr Guy.