Peka Peka to Ōtaki Expressway

Peka Peka to Ōtaki Expressway is a four-lane, 13km ‘Green Corridor’ extending from Te Kowhai Road in the south, through to Taylors Road in the north, passing through predominantly rural land as well as the townships of Te Horo and Ōtaki.

This expressway is the result of many years of hard work and an extraordinary amount of commitment and energy from everyone involved. We worked with local communities, mana whenua, and a host of talented consultants and contractors to deliver much more than just a road. 

Our role has been wide reaching and included extensive concept work and consultation, detailed planting schemes and site observation for over 750,000 native plants, development of wetlands and enhancement of ecologically significant areas, co-design of bridges, artworks and gateway sculptures, and more.

Bridges along the PP2Ō expressway play an important role, providing east west connections for local communities and contribute to the expression of cultural and community identity within Ōtaki.

The series of bridges were designed to be in keeping with the family of bridges across the wider project to the south. They emerge out of the landscape and have a slender profile across the horizon, framing views throughout the Ōtaki plains.

Project Team: Ngā Hapū o Ōtaki, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, Kāpiti Coast District Council, Fletcher Construction, Chelsea landscapes, Tonkin + Taylor, Beca

Designed for the Environment

Sustainability was at the core of design development and thinking for PP2O.

Sustainable features include:

• All planting (more than 750,000 plants) are eco-sourced – including rare and threatened species.
• Stormwater is managed and treated holistically through swales and wetlands for improved climate resilience.
• No imported topsoil was used on site.
• Local river gravels were used for aggregates in bridges and paving.
• The bridge structures were designed to significantly reduce carbon emissions by reduction in concrete and steel through design methodology and replacement of 334 tonnes of cement with fly ash.