Report vindicates residents saying Kapiti Expressway is too noisy

A new report has vindicated a group of Kapiti Coast residents, who've spent a year rallying against a noisy expressway.

Further remedial work will now take place on the new $600 million road, but some residents are still unhappy.

When Nick Fisher came to Raumati 15 years ago, he thought he was moving to a quiet spot.

But that peace was shattered in 2017, when the expressway opened just metres from his once-secluded street.

"I'm not angry because the road is there - I'm angry because of the noise," he said.

Fisher's claims of the road being too noisy have partly been backed up in a report by an expert panel - set up by NZTA, amid mounting protests from residents.

The report found residents in at least six homes may be experiencing "unreasonable" traffic noise from vehicles driving over rumble strips and bridge joints.

"We will continue to work with those residents and looking at options to help mitigate those properties identified in the report," said NZTA senior project delivery manager Chris Hunt.

Mr Hunt says many of the suggested fixes are underway or already completed.

Despite the report backing up some of his claims, Mr Fisher is ultimately disappointed with a key finding.

The panel found that noise from the expressway is "clearly noticeable", but it concluded that the overall noise level is "generally reasonable".

Mr Fisher scoffs at the recommendation that affected residents get cooling systems, so they don't have to open their windows.

"It's not reasonable to expect everyone to live inside the house," he said. "We don't live in high-rise apartments, we live on spacious sections and we want to enjoy it."

NZTA says affected property owners will be contacted directly to discuss further individual measures.

Newshub.