Kapiti Expressway

Story

The Kapiti Expressway is a four-lane grade-separated expressway through the Kapiti Coast, north of Wellington, New Zealand., it stretches 18km from Mackays Crossing north of Paekakariki to just north of Peka Peka, bypassing the former two-lane route through Raumati, Paraparaumu, and Waikanae. Construction of a 14km northern extension to just north of Otaki, bypassing Te Horo and Otaki, is expected to start construction in mid-2017.ConstructionThe section from just south of Mackays Crossing to just south of Poplar Avenue at Raumati South was completed in 2007 with the completion of the Mackays Crossing interchange and rail overbridge, bypassing the existing rail level crossing. The previously constructed four-lane section from Mackays Crossing to Poplar Avenue was upgraded during 2016 and early 2017 to provide an improved road surface. This section of road is constructed on an old peat swamp and develops an uneven surface over time.Work on the Raumati to Peka Peka section started in December 2013. The official opening ceremony was held on 16 February 2017, and the expressway opened to traffic in the early hours of 24 February 2017, some three months ahead of the original scheduled date. Some works, including the final layer of asphalt on some sections and roundabouts at the Peka Peka and Poplar Avenue interchanges, will take until mid-2017 to complete.The first sod was turned on the Peka Peka to Otaki section on 6 July 2017 and will finish in 2020.