Repairs already on expressway
Just a few months after it opened, the $630 million Kapiti expressway will undergo repair work to fix ‘‘pavement issues’’ on the road surface.
The New Zealand Transport Agency signalled a couple of weeks ago that repair work was possible on sections of the expressway between Paraparaumu and Waikanae, because of discolouration and changes to the surface.
The problems have occurred along just over a kilometre in the southbound lane, and about 260 metres in the northbound lane, near Kapiti Rd.
Meanwhile, NZTA is starting work to extend the merging zone at the MacKays Crossing end of the expressway in an effort to relieve congestion during the southbound morning peak.
It hopes extending the merging point about 200 metres to the north will allow an extra 100 vehicles an hour through the chokepoint at peak travel times.
Acting highway manager Chris Hunt said yesterday that repair work to the expressway surface would be needed, though the cause of the issue was not yet known.
Road samples had been taken for testing, and the agency expected to know by the end of the week what the problem was.
‘‘We will then be able to decide what remedial work will be needed at the locations affected.’’
The agency said earlier this month that the surface in the affected areas had become lighter than other areas, and the texture had become rougher. The issue did not pose any risks to motorists.
Hunt said the issues with the road surface ‘‘were not anticipated’’.
Work on the MacKays Crossing merge point comes after NZTA figures showed that, while the expressway had shaved minutes off the morning southbound journey from Peka Peka to MacKays Crossing, it had created a bottleneck at the merge point.
Travel times during the early morning peak heading south from Raumati were longer than before the expressway opened.
It said recently the merge point was too narrow, and extending it could help improve traffic flow.
‘‘The agency is currently completing a safety review of the proposed relocation of the MacKays Crossing merge point 200 metres north of its existing location,’’ Hunt said.
‘‘We can’t confirm the final design or implementation dates until this safety review is completed.’’
Meanwhile, the roading construction companies behind the Transmission Gully project, CPB and HEB, have written to Waitangirua residents warning them work this winter will involve getting in and clearing bush behind Porirua East and could create issues with dust.
The clearing will allow access to the central section of a new Waitangirua Link Rd, which will connect Warspite Ave in Waitangirua to an interchange with the Whitby Link Road and then on to the Transmission Gully Project.
Writing on behalf of the companies, Belinda Mackenzie-Dodds, the community and stakeholder manager, warned Warspite Ave residents they could be particularly affected by part of the project.
‘‘If you feel as though you are being unduly affected by dust, please contact us immediately and we will work with you to mitigate effects. As with any construction work, our activities will make some noise and some machinery may cause vibration in the immediate vicinity of the site.’’
The work would be monitored to ensure it kept to national standards for noise and vibration levels. It will be done in preparation for the main earthworks phase next spring.
Transmission Gully motorway project community adviser Joe Fenton said heavy vehicles would soon start accessing the bush behind Porirua East via an access road near the Mana Coach bus depot. ’’We’ll be working on clearing the bushes ... then earthwork starts on the hillside.’’
While NZTA was responsible for the main motorway, Porirua City Council is responsible for the connections to Waitangirua and Whitby, which will carry an estimated cost of $33m.