The Kapiti Expressway is a four-lane grade-separated expressway through the Kapiti Coast, north of Wellington, New Zealand., it stretches from Mackays Crossing north of Paekakariki to just north of Peka Peka, bypassing the former two-lane route through Raumati South, Paraparaumu, and Waikanae. Construction of a northern extension to just north of Ōtaki, bypassing Te Horo and Ōtaki, started in 2017.
Construction
The 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, took until mid-2017 to complete. The first sod was turned on the Peka Peka to Ōtaki section on 6 July 2017 and will finish in 2021.
Controversies
After 18 months it was apparent the road needed repairs. 49 kilometres of lanes were found to be leaking, due to the new type of low-sound asphalt that was used for its construction. This caused the road to crack and sink in many areas. When the New Zealand Transport Agency where asked, under an Official Information Act request, to provide information on the cause of the issues encountered they declined. In July 2017 the Transport Minister Simon Bridges announced that an full Peka Peka Interchange would need to be built to connect the Waikanae North, Peka Peka and Te Horo Communities to the Kapiti Expressway. In January 2019, the NZTA announced plans to stop this project. An initiate was formed named "Finish our Road" focusing on the safety implications because higher traffic on local roads, impact on ratepayers subject to higher maintenance costs and impact on the rural communities of the Kapiti Coast. In May 2019, the Kapiti Coast District Council voted unanimously to back the goals of the initiative to review the business case provided by NZTA and their decision not to build the Peka Peka interchange.
