Project purpose
The 3.6km Ohingaiti to Makohine Realignment will provide safer and easier journeys for motorists travelling through the North Island through the construction of a 3.6km realignment.
Benefits
The State Highway 1 Ohingaiti to Makohine realignment project will improve safety. Starting 30km south of Taihape in the Rangitikei district of the Manawatu-Whanganui region, 3.6km of SH1 will be realigned. It will provide a safer and easier journey for motorists travelling this central North Island route. The steep winding road on Makohine Hill will be straightened and the dangerous S bend in Ohingaiti will be removed. A new overpass will replace the level crossing at Ohingaiti eliminating the risk of collisions with trains, improving travel times and safety and shortening the route. Access to and from SH1 for the Ohingaiti community will beimproved through a new intersection at Onslow Road. Construction started in March 2008 and will be completed in 2011.
Features
New intersection
With the removal of the old level crossing, the two dangerous 25km per hour curves will go and be replaced with a new safe and easy access intersection.
New tunnel
The old rail crossing will be eliminated and along with it the accident risk. Instead, a 110m new section of the highway will cross over a purpose built railway tunnel.
New passing lane
1.3km of new northbound passing lane up Makohine Hill will create more and safer passing opportunities.
New bridge
The NZTA will construct a new three span bridge over the Makohine stream. In conjunction with local iwi and Horizons Regional Council a native planting scheme has been developed to beautify the area.
The rest area at the bottom of Makohine Hill will be also improved to make the most of the natural landscape and view of the Makohine rail viaduct.
Stream
The stream will be realigned from its present course through farmland and overgrown brambles.
