Kāpiti Coast District Council has unanimously backed a call for a rethink on the decision by the NZ Transport Agency to not build a full interchange on to the expressway at Peka Peka.

The Finish Our Road (FOR) group welcomed a recent council decision to support a FOR investigation into a new business case for the full interchange and support in principle NZTA investment in new south-facing on and off ramps.

Waikanae Community Board chair Jocelyn Prvanov, who is also a member of the group, says the council’s decision is a welcome step.

“It’s also critical that the council has recognised that land may be needed for the expressway ramps and supports a stop to any premature disposal of the NZTA land in the future,” she says.

The council has agreed to take steps to make the full interchange a high priority in the Wellington Regional Land Transport Plan.

NZTA data show that 2300 vehicle movements a day between the Waikanae and Ōtaki interchanges would under current plans be prevented from accessing the expressway and would have to use local roads in Waikanae.

“This will have a baleful effect on Waikanae’s roads and make them unsafe, noisy and polluted,” Jocelyn says.

“We are also delighted that the council has noted our view that NZTA’s cost for the full interchange was overstated and that they failed to consider the cost for local ratepayers of diverting the traffic to Waikanae.

“This is a victory for common-sense.”