Work to improve electricity network resilience and increase drinking water services is to be carried out for the fast-growing eastern suburbs.
To do this quickly and efficiently, a temporary closure of Waitangirua Link Road and a partial closure of Te Ara Kāpehu (formerly Whitby) Link Road is needed, with work being done in two stages.
Waitangirua and Te Ara Kāpehu link roads water and electricity upgrades
Porirua City Council, Wellington Electricity, Wellington Water and Kāinga Ora are teaming up to carry out critical infrastructure service upgrades along link roads, at the same time. These upgrades will increase resilience and supply for local residents and will benefit Porirua as a whole, but will cause traffic disruption during the work, with road and lane closures.
Construction programme and timeframes
The Waitangirua and Te Ara Kāpehu (Whitby) Link Roads Project breaks ground in early November 2024, and will take about seven months to complete both stages.
Stage 1 – Waitangirua Link Road – full closure from 4 November 2024
The first stage of the construction work is due to start in early November and will require the full closure of Waitangirua Link Road (from Warspite Avenue to the T-junction with Te Ara Kāpehu. This stage is expected to take up to five months to complete.
During the closure, drinking water pipes will be laid, along with cabling for electricity network upgrades.
While the road is closed, Council will also take the opportunity to remove wilding pine trees, clear vegetation and install signage for the increased speed limit on the Waitangirua Link Road, which is being raised to 60km/h as part of the Speed Management Plan for Porirua City.
Once the cabling and pipework is completed, the road will be fully resurfaced.
We encourage motorists to plan their journeys using alternative routes and allow extra time and appreciate everyone’s patience while this important work is carried out.
Stage 2 – Te Ara Kāpehu (formerly the Whitby) Link Road – partial closure
The second stage of work will take place along Te Ara Kāpehu Link Road (between the Silverbrooke development and the T-junction with Waitangirua Link Road) also to lay water pipes and power cabling. This work is scheduled to happen once the first stage is complete, and the Waitangirua Link Road is back open. The intention is that one lane will remain open, with traffic management measures in place for about two months.
During both closures, drinking water pipes will be laid, along with cabling for electricity network upgrades.
The new power cables will allow future capacity increases, anticipating housing growth as this area continues to expand.
An additional 2.4 km of drinking water pipes will connect to the new, larger reservoir being built at the end of Stemhead Lane.
The reservoir will cater for future demand on Porirua’s drinking water network and improve network resilience by adding a second connection to upper Whitby and providing capacity in case of an emergency. These upgrades also reduce and ultimately remove current reliance on pump stations.
The new reservoir is planned for construction in the first half of 2025 and will be delivered by Te Rā Nui. It will increase the amount of water available from 4.5 million litres to 13.5 million litres.
Why is the Waitangirua Link Road being completely closed temporarily? Why not keep one lane open or have traffic management in place?
For the work to be completed as quickly and efficiently as possible, the decision has been made to fully close the road from 4 November 2024, so work crews have unimpeded access to the site. If we were to keep the road partially open the work would take considerably longer and cost considerably more.
Will the work be disruptive for regular users of the roads?
Yes, road and lane closures will be disruptive for regular users of the link roads, and individuals and businesses living and operating in the area.
To keep disruption to a minimum, we are working together using a ‘dig once’ approach to get water and electricity upgrades done at the same time. Teaming up to do this infrastructure work means we only need to close the road once, rather than twice, which would have been more inconvenient to road users,
We encourage motorists to plan their journeys using alternative routes and allow extra time.
Will the road be resurfaced?
Once the cabling and pipework is completed, the road will be fully resurfaced.
Is a more detailed version of the map available?
Yes, you can download it here [jpg, 2MB].
I have a question, who do I contact?
Email [email protected]
If people are asking the same questions, we'll add them to our FAQs.
I want to be kept up to date as the project progresses. How do I do that?
Email [email protected] and ask to be added to our mailing list.
