The NZ Transport Agency is inviting the public to get a virtual sneak peek of the updated concept design for the Te Ahu a Turanga: Manawatu Tararua Highway and hear about recent progress on the project.

A series of drop-in public information sessions will be held this month to present information on the design of the four-lane highway, recent onsite activity, and the project‘s extensive ecological mitigation work programme.

NZTA owner interface manager Lonnie Dalzell says the team has been working hard behind the scenes and has plenty of fresh information to share with the community.

“Te Ahu a Turanga is a major project that will restore a crucial transport link to support the needs of locals, travellers and freight across the lower North Island.

“It‘s important that we get it right and that‘s why we‘ve made it a priority to keep the community informed along the way and to actively seek their feedback.”

Feedback gathered to date has contributed to a number of changes to the project, including:

• The inclusion of a shared path for walkers and cyclists

• The addition of slow vehicle lanes for three kilometres on the Ruahine Ranges, effectively making the highway four lanes for its entire 11.5-kilometre length

Additional work to achieve the project‘s goal of ‘treading lightly‘ through the environment and, where possible, leaving the landscape in a better state than before the project began.

“We are particularly excited about our increased ecological scope, which will see the project planting about 46 hectares of forest to replace the 11 hectares we expect to be impacted by the construction of the highway. This reflects our firm commitment to treating the landscape with the utmost care and consideration,” Dalzell says.

“The project team is looking forward to sharing our updated concept design and a range of other information at the public sessions. We encourage everyone to come along to hear and see more about the project, and to share their feedback.”

The information sessions will be held at:

The project team will also be at the upcoming Central Districts Field Days, in Feilding from 19-21 March, and encourage visitors to drop by their stand near the main entrance.