New Zealand / Transport

New Kapiti Expressway open to pedestrians

17:56 pm on 18 February 2017

Thousands of Kapiti coasters have taken the opportunity to test the new Kapiti Expressway today before it opens to traffic in a few days' time.

Pedestrians checking out the Kapiti Expressway ahead of its opening to traffic. Photo: RNZ / Simon Dickinson

With the smell of fresh asphalt in their nostrils, they walked, cycled and mobility-scooted over the 5 kilometre stretch between the Paraparaumu and Waikanae interchanges as part of an open day.

The $630 million 18-kilometre-long expressway stretches from Mackays Crossing to Peka Peka north of Wellington.

It's one of the projects in the government's roads of national significance programme.

Work to build the next 13-kilometre stage to Otaki is scheduled to begin in the middle of next year.

Photo: RNZ / Simon Dickinson