If you’ve driven along State Highway 2 between Te Puna and Ōmokoroa recently, you may have noticed some checkerboard-like markings on the road.

These aren’t decorative – they’re ground control points used for mobile road scanning as part of surveys for the Takitimu North Link Stage 2 project, NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) said in a post on its Facebook page.

“A LiDAR-equipped (Light Detection and Ranging) vehicle is scanning SH2, side roads, and nearby driveways to capture precise measurements that will help design the new road.

“The control points ensure the LiDAR system is correctly calibrated.”

Key details:

– The markings are spaced about 250 metres apart.

– They’ll naturally wear off in 2–3 months.

– Using a scanning vehicle means less time on the road and a safer process for everyone.

This survey data feeds into the road design and forms part of a wider programme of ground investigations for Takitimu North Link Stage 2, which runs through to the end of the year.

About the project

Takitimu North Link Stage 2 is a Road of National Significance – a proposed 7.7km, four-lane state highway between Te Puna and Ōmokoroa.

Earlier this year, the NZTA board confirmed $97 million to support the next steps: progressing design, securing consents and getting enabling works under way.

“We’ve already completed design refinements where Stage 1 and Stage 2 meet at Te Puna, helping to reduce future rework,” NZTA said in an update on its website.

“Delivering a project of this size and scale comes with its challenges, from managing the sensitive coastal environment to landholdings and complex stormwater requirements.

“Right now, we’re carrying out ground investigations at key sites near Snodgrass, Ainsworth, Te Puna Quarry and Munro Rds, and around Oturu and Te Puna streams.

“These include geotechnical testing, topographical surveys and soil contamination investigations, and will continue through to December. This work helps inform the road’s design and planning.”

In 2026, NZTA will continue the pre-implementation work as part of the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme.