Raumati Straights Upgrade – January- Dec 2015 to OctoberOct 2016
A smoother connection is on its way.Raumati Straights Upgrade
A smoother connection is on its way.
The Raumati Straights Upgrade involves nine months of roadworksis underway on 2kma stretch of State Highway 1 north of Wellington. The works are part of the Mackays to Peka Peka (M2PP) Expressway project, and will be carried out on the 2km of Raumati Straights, between Paekakariki and Paraparaumu. This upgrade, which started in January 2016, is important because the current road provides a very uneven and bumpy ride and raises ongoing maintenance and safety issues.
The upgrademain works will fixtake around nine months, and correct the shape and camber of the road, widen the road shoulders, add wire median barriersbegin in the centre and northbound,early January 2016. We’re starting at this time of year so we can kick off with minimal disruption, and a new guard rail southboundmotorists can get used to improve road safety and your experience aschanges gradually, at a road user.time when the highway is less busy.
Improving thisThis upgrade will smooth out the bumpy section of State Highway 1 is critical because it needsthe highway between Mackays Crossing and Raumati, to connect seamlesslyensure a smoother, safer, seamless connection between the new Mackays to Peka Peka (M2PP) Expressway and Transmission Gully that sit either side of it.M2PP Expressway and Tranmission Gully.
For a full plan of our works view our Raumati Straights infographic
While works are carried out, there’s plenty for drivers to be aware of, including:
70 kph daytime speed limittwo southbound lanes (closest to rail tracks) operating on weekday mornings for commuter trafficnight works as required, with 50 and 30 kph speed limits at timespotential peak time delays northboundchanges to the road layout as each stage of work is completedstaying informed by watching out for signs and advertising
For more information go to
- Nine months - Why so long?
Why we’re upgrading Raumati Straights - What's happening where, when and why?
What the upgrade involves - Frequently asked questions
Staging works to reduce delays - Essential information for drivers
How you can help us avoid traffic disruption
Nine months - why so long? Why we’re upgrading Raumati Straights
Our number one priority is keeping you, your passengersThe 2km Raumati Straights between Mackays Crossing and our workers safe.
We’re all workingPoplar Avenue will tie together the Mackays to Peka Peka Expressway and commuting onTransmission Gully. It needs a State Highway that has over 25,000 vehicles moving through per day. We’re squeezed in between a live railway and a conservation area (Queen Elizabeth Park) and we’ve got no alternative route. So for nine months we’ve gotmajor upgrade to workgive you, the road users, the same road quality and travel together.safety you’ll experience on the new expressways.
Did you know that Raumati Straights is built on top of peat? Thick, water-logged soil that used to be swamp or wetlands. The peatupgrade is deepest on the left-hand sidean important part of the northbound lane where you can feel dips and rolls in your ride. That’s caused by the spongy soil beneath the roadM2PP Expressway project, which is all about providing safer and more reliable trips to fix this up we have to load it with rock and hard fill and then let it settle for at least two months.from Wellington.
So we’re not dealingBack to top
What the upgrade involves
The upgrade involves rebuilding and reshaping the Raumati Straights, which is the 2km stretch of State Highway 1 between Mackays Crossing and Poplar Avenue. This will remove the bumps and slopes, and bring the road up to the technical standards required for easier and more effective maintenance.
Safety improvements include widening the road shoulders, replacing the concrete median barrier with stable ground or working conditions on this job. To manage all these issues we’ve put a huge amount of expertisewire rope barrier, and time into planning and staging our work to getadding a barrier where there is none on the best outcome possible.northbound edge.
What’s happening where, when and why? Staged works
We’ve worked closely with stakeholders and community groups, as well as AA and emergency servicesThe upgrade involves major works that will be staged to develop our plan for Raumati Straights. We looked at all sorts of options, some of which involved more than one lane closure at a timeminimise disruption to traffic. Speed limits and for much longer periods. We settled on the current plan because it was agreed that it would cause the least amount of disruption, while still achieving a good result for all road users.
Our plan has eight stages that allow uslayouts will vary during works and it’s important to work safely, efficiently and keep traffic moving as much as possible. Stage one was completed in late 2015. your speed down to keep everyone safe.
To get your bearings, northbound lanes are the ones on the QE11 Park side, and southbound are closest to the rail tracks.
Set-up - Stage one
During December 2015, works involve removing the concrete barrier in the centre of State Highway 1 and putting in temporary safety posts. These set-up works will continue until just before the Christmas break. This work’s happening mostly at night to minimise traffic disruption during the day, and people driving in this area should keep their eyes peeled for signage and road cones, and drive with care to keep workers and road users safe.
Main works
The main works are made up of stages two to six, and involve rebuilding and resealing the road.
mid-April to mid-May
mid-May to mid-June
June to October 2016 – Finishing all lanes
STAGE 7
Two lanes southbound and northbound open
We’re nearly there!
At times, during off-peak and at night there might only be one lane operating in each direction. Please pay careful attention to the electronic message boards that will describe what’s ahead.
During this stage we’re into finishing the job. All pavement work should be finished and we’ll be putting in wire rope median barriers to separate northbound and southbound traffic as well as adding barriers at the road sides. All of this will improve the end result for road users.
September to early October 2016 – Finished
STAGE 8
We’ve forecast our work plan as accurately as possible, but sometimes things can change due to unforeseen circumstances such as the weather. We’ll keep this information up-to-date with any changes to the plan. You can also sign up for dedicated Raumati Straights updates to keep in the loop.
View stage eight infographicJanuary to February 2016 - Left hand northbound lane STAGE 2 COMPLETED 5 January to mid-February | One northbound and two southbound lanes open. During this stage we’re reshaping the sloping pavement on the left of the northbound lane (the side closest to the coast). The peat beneath this section is very deep so we need to let the weight of our new fill and pavement settle and compact the soil below. While we work on the right hand northbound lane, Stage 3, you’ll drive on the settling pavement and you’ll notice it’s smooth to start with then gradually over time gets bumpier. Once things finish settling |
|---|---|
Late Feb to March - Northbound lane s STAGE 3 mid-February to mid-March | One northbound and two southbound lanes open during morning peak. This stage involves When you drive on the re-opened lane, you’ll notice it’s smooth to start with then gradually over time gets bumpier. This is normal and all part of the settlement process that needs to happen before we return to finish works on this lane around April/May. |
Mid March to mid April – Southbound and northbound lanes STAGE 4 mid-March to Easter | Two lanes open in peak direction ( two south in the morning and two north in the evening) During this stage, we This stage involves regular changes including various lane closures, speed restrictions, and night works. It’s really important that you stick to the posted speed limits and pay close attention to the signs and electronic message boards that’ll describe what’s ahead. |
Mid April to mid May - Back to the left hand northbound lane STAGE 5
| One northbound and two southbound lanes open. After Easter |
Mid May to early June - Southbound lanes STAGE 6
| Two lanes open in peak direction (two south in the morning and two north in the evening) Once again for around three weeks there’ll be regular changes including various lane closures, speed restrictions, and night works. It’s really important that you stick to the posted speed limits and pay close attention to the signs and electronic message boards that’ll describe what’s ahead. |
Finishing work – stages seven and eight
Back Further work will be done between June and September/October to top
Frequently asked questions
Why are the delays worse than normal?
Summer 2016 has seen finish the largest summer programme of maintenance roadworks thatjob. This will involve rebuilding the NZ Transport Agency has ever carried outroad shoulders, putting in the region. So there are a lot of works alongwire rope median barrier to separate northbound and southbound traffic, and completing the wider network (as well astie in to the Raumati Straights Upgrade), that are impacting on peak time daily commutes. State Highway 1 is already a very busy stretchPoplar Avenue end of highway - so when you add roadworks - be they safety improvements, large capital investment projects or summer maintenance works, these all have an impact on people's journey times. This really highlights the need for an improved network, the new Expressway and wider Wellington Northern Corridor plans.
We know being stuck in traffic is a pain at the best of times and appreciate that on hot days it’s even worse. We’re working as hard and as safely as we can to make sure we cause the least possible disruption. But at the same time we’ve got an important job to do and sometimes this will cause delays. We’re really sorry for the inconvenience and thank you for your understanding and patience while we get on with things. Check out some useful tips and resources to help you plan your journey.
Why can’t you do itExpressway. During this time all four lanes will operate during peak traffic. At times – during off-peak and at night or work more hours– there might only be one lane operating in each day?
Where we can work laterThe Raumati Straights Upgrade will be completed in the eveningslate September or early October 2016.
Back to extend productivity, we’ll be lookingtop
Essential information for drivers
The Raumati Straights Upgrade has been planned to do so. In some stages we’ll be able to work at night and we’ll take full advantage of those opportunities. At other timesminimise disruption for road users. Throughout the type of work or ground conditions we’re dealing with make it unsafe or impossible for night work. Our staged work plan tells you what we’re doing when and why, including when night works will be happening.works:
One northbound traffic lane will be out of action at most times.Two southbound lanes will always be open during the morning traffic peaksAll four lanes will be open over Christmas and Easter.
Speed limits
The majority of the main worksspeed limit will be complete by June and then we’re into finishing works. Our crews tryreduce to clear70kph during the siteupgrade. At times, during night works, the evening peaklimit will reduce to minimise further distraction and side friction (rubbernecking).30kph or 50kph over short distances.
Why aren’t you using tidal flow and cones that allow two lanes in the peak direction?Travel times
The time it would take to switch traffic twiceDrivers should allow a day would cut into available worklittle longer for trips at peak times. However, the average journey time between Mackays Crossing and make the whole jobRaumati Road is likely to take much longer. And, becausearound 70 seconds longer at the site is squeezed in between a live rail line and Queen Elizabeth Park, tidal flow would impact on driver and worker safety. In stages where it’s possible, we have made this part of our traffic management plan.most.
Can you put up screens to stop people looking and slowing down?
We’re working inWhen we close a very confined space as the sitenorthbound lane, if traffic is squeezed in between a live rail line and Queen Elizabeth Park. Screens need to be fixed to concrete barriers, concrete barriers takebacked up space, less space means less worksite area. The end resultdrivers will find they’re queuing at Mackays instead of adding screens would be more time and more delays.Poplar Avenue.
Why is the speed limit still lowered when there’s no work going on?Information
Safety has to come first, for road users and workers. All lanes, north and south bound, have been narrowed to 3.25m toWe’ll provide enough space fordetailed information throughout the works using billboards and traffic management to happen safely. We only have one metre separating opposing traffic which is flowing over uneven surfaces past distracting work site activities.radio and newspaper advertising.
Current safety standards for roads require that roads/lanes under 3.5m have lower speed limits. We’ve lowered the speed limitYou can also sign up to 70km/h which is at the higher end of the permitted scale.receive updates by email or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. A dedicated Raumati Straights Upgrade alert will be available soon.
Why can’t the NZ Transport Agency do one roadworks site and then move on to the next, instead of doing them all at once?Before you set out
The summer months are the best time that construction and maintenance work can be done, as the warmer temperatures and lower rainfall are needed to do this sort of work. So we have to do this work over the same summer construction period and while road users are using the road. The cumulative effect of this means journey times can be longer.
How will emergency services get through if traffic is bad?
DriveLive tells you how long journeys between Wellington and the Kāpiti Coast are taking right now. Check it over breakfast or before you leave work at the end of the day and see if you’d save time by starting out 15 minutes earlier or 20 minutes later!
We’ve worked closely with the emergency services (Police, Fire, and Ambulance) to come up with a staged work plan that (within our work site and ground condition constraints) causes the least possible disruption. DespiteRemember only use this there will be timesservice when delays occur.it is safe to do so - DRIVE SAFE.
SIRENS APPROACHING - If you see or hear an emergency vehicle behind you, slow down, make sure you indicate and pull to the left. While you know what you're planning to do, it's important for the emergency services who are travelling at high speed to know you've seen them and are planning to move aside. Visit Drivelive - Kāpiti today
If you are in congested double-lane traffic, split so that they can navigate through the centre of the two lanes.
Essential information for road users How you can help us
Plan your trip. We know it’s not easy for everyoneWhile we’ll be working hard to adjust their travel plans on short notice, but if it’s possible, plan your trip ahead of time. If you havekeep traffic disruption to travel at peak times, allow more time to get to your destination safely and on time.a minimum there could be delays.
Plan your trip
Before you leave, check out current travel times using Drivelive . The real-time journey data will tell you if you can expect delays and if it’s a good time to set out.
Explore other travel options
Park & Ride. Park for free at Waikanae and Paraparaumu and connect with regular bus and train servicesNow might be a good time to start taking the Citytrain. Especially as Metlink will be adding more park and Wellington region.
Sign up to Express Lane news! For regular project updates and information sign up to Express Lane , our monthly e-newsletter and bulletin service. You can also sign up for dedicated Raumati Straights updates to keep in the loop.
Please don’t use Mackays Crossing to jump ahead of the traffic queue. This actually makes delays longerride and frustrates other road users who are stucknew trains in the traffic and waiting patiently.next few months.
You could also:
Let us know how it’s going out there . Send your feedback to us at info@m2pp.co.nz– this is the fastest way to get a response to your questions or concerns.
Share your ride to help reduce the number of vehicles on the roadConsider changing your start time at work so you can drive when traffic is lighterWork from home some days if possible.
Any reduction in vehicle numbers while the work is underway will help us complete the upgrade quickly and safely.