Peka Peka interchange halted

Plans for a new interchange at the Kāpiti expressway’s northern end have been scrapped.

The Peka Peka interchange was approved by the National Government in July 2017, but has faced an uncertain future since the Labour-led Government came to power months later.

Peka Peka, on the Kāpiti Coast, sits at the northern tip of the $630 million Kāpiti expressway that opened in 2017. The expressway is currently being extended north to Ōtaki, for $330m, meaning the small seaside town will find itself near the middle of the completed expressway. Currently, a partial interchange at Peka Peka means drivers cannot turn south onto the expressway at that location, while northbound commuters cannot get off there.

Any motorists wanting to do so must instead use local roads and drive to the Te Moana Rd interchange in Waikanae, about five kilometres south.

A full interchange at Peka Peka would have allowed motorists to get on and off the expressway seamlessly in both directions, something residents said would stop dangerous U-turns from happening.

However, the New Zealand Transport Agency said the full interchange was not value for money and building it would mean other projects ‘‘with larger

benefits’’ could miss out. Agency spokeswoman Emma Speight said she understood many in the Peka Peka community would be disappointed by the decision.

‘‘However, we have had to weigh up the estimated cost of between $22m and $29m to build a full interchange against the many other transport priorities across the country.’’

The decision was made following a review of the project, which found it did not align with the priorities in the current Government’s policy statement on land transport.

The policy committed to four priorities: a safer transport network free of death and injury, accessible and affordable transport, reduced emissions, and value for money.

‘‘The area that would potentially utilise a full interchange is relatively lightly populated and does not generate a large number of vehicle movements. There are no indications that there will be significant population growth in the near future.’’

Any safety concerns in the area would be addressed by the Peka Peka to O¯ taki (PP2O) expressway, which would lower traffic volumes on Peka Peka Rd, Speight said.

‘‘The travel times for Peka Peka and Te Horo residents to access an expressway ramp will be between 3 to 9 minutes after the PP2O project is complete. This is similar to the range of expressway ramp access times in other locations in Ka¯ piti.’’

O¯ taki MP Nathan Guy said it was ‘‘gut-wrenching’’ to hear it would be scrapped.

‘‘It’s a kick in the guts for not only the Peka Peka community but also Te Horo; we’ve had a bumper summer and people can’t understand why they can’t get off the expressway.’’

A social media poll he conducted this month found 92 per cent of the 946 people who responded wanted it to be built.

‘‘It’s a kick in the guts for not only the Peka Peka community but also Te Horo . . .’’ O¯ taki MP Nathan Guy