Work to improve electricity network resilience and increase drinking water services is being carried out for the fast-growing eastern suburbs, with work on the Waitangirua Link Road now complete. Work on Te Ara Kāpehu (formerly Whitby Link Road) is now underway.

Porirua Mayor Anita Baker says the first stage of this work involved laying water pipes and electrical cabling along Waitangirua Link Road, with the road closed from November 2024.

"Porirua City Council, Wellington Electricity, Wellington Water and Kāinga Ora have teamed up to carry out these 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, as part of our wider plan for improvements.

"Stage 1 is now complete, and the road has reopened with a new higher speed limit of 60km/h as part of Porirua City’s speed management plan," she says.

Crews will return in about two months’ time to liven the water connection. This work will happen at the Warspite Avenue end of the Waitangirua Link Road entrance. It will involve a temporary speed limit drop to 30km/h, with both lanes open and traffic management in place for up to two weeks.

Stage 2 of the work is now underway with the lane into Whitby from Transmission Gully closed for approximately two months to allow for water pipes and electricity cabling to be laid.

Motorists can exit Whitby using Te Ara Kāpehu but not enter on this road, which is closed between the T-junction with Waitangirua Link Road and the Silverbrooke development. A 30km/h temporary speed limit is in place during the work.

A decision was made to close one lane rather than use stop/go or traffic light traffic management, as it will mean the work can be completed more quickly and will cost less.

The water pipes will eventually connect to the new, larger water reservoir that will be built by Te Rā Nui at the end of Stemhead Lane. The reservoir work is planned to start later this year.

For more info: poriruacity.govt.nz/link-roads

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