Hang a left to ride the expressway

Kapiti drivers can get a $630 million tease of what is set to come on the district’s giant roading project.

A tiny section of the Kapiti expressway will be driven on this week - as the project gave a sneak peak of progress along the $630 million project.

Work on State Highway 1 at the intersection of Poplar Ave will see traffic redirected on a small section of the expressway near the intersection from this week.

On Tuesday the Kapiti Observer took a tour along the about-18km length of the Mackays to Peka Peka section of the expressway, which is driveable but for a few bridge sections, near completion.

The NZ Transport Agency has said the expressway could be completed as early as December.

On Tuesday project manager John Palm said the work would be finished ahead of the official mid2017 finish date, but a December finish was ‘‘weather dependent’’.

For example he said torrential rain over the past week had delayed asphalt laying on parts of the expressway.

He said work started on the project around Otaihanga to Waikanae River and then to the south around Poplar Ave.

‘‘Those are nearing completion now, getting ready for the final surface to go on.’’

This week, drivers turning onto Poplar Ave from SH1 will be diverted down the expressway offramp. Previously they would turn at a T-intersection from the highway.

Cyclists heading north will take the off-ramp, then travel around the roundabout on Poplar Ave, and then rejoin SH1 north of the Poplar Ave intersection.

People heading north on SH1 will use the other ramp that has been built for the Poplar Ave partial interchange.

Palm said progress was going well on the Raumati Straights upgrade, which caused traffic snarl ups over summer this year.

The work to flatten and repair the section of road that would eventually link Transmission Gully and the Kapiti expressway started in January.

In March the agency admitted the project had created a ‘‘pinch-point’’ for traffic, with longer delays than expected.

On Tuesday Palm said the final resurfacing of asphalt should be laid on the road by the end of September, then wire rope barriers would be put up along the centre line.

‘‘Work should be complete around about mid-October.’’

Once completed, the Mackays to Peka Peka section of the expressway will link to four lane sections to the north and south.

Work is underway on Transmission Gully to the south. To the north, the current section will link to a new section running to north of Otaki, which would by-pass the township.

Both are set to be completed by 2020.

‘‘The final seal goes on the Raumati Straights this month, and work should be finished by midOctober’’