The preferred route is a combination of section S6 and N4, the green and light blue sections of this map.

Some Horowhenua residents have received a letter revealing the route of the Ōtaki to north of Levin expressway.

The preferred route runs closest to State Highway 1 and closest to SH57 further north. On the New Zealand Transport Agency's maps, the route is a combination of section S6 and N4.

Manakau resident Peter Staples received the letter on Monday evening, confirming his farm is one of the affected properties.

Staples was pleased the transport agency had made an effort to contact landowners before making a public announcement, and was glad a decision had finally been made.

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WARWICK SMITH/STUFF Peter Staples says the state will need to buy his farm, which has been in his family for four generations.

He wants the expressway to be "done properly" and for four lanes to be built from the start, as opposed to the proposed two lanes that could be expanded into four.

"This is for the future," he said.

The Government would have to buy the farm as the road would come straight through it, Staples said. His family had farmed the land for four generations.

"This is the end of our family being involved with this land."

A photo of the letter has been posted on Facebook by an expressway discussion group.

The project is expected to cost more than $100 million. The expressway will form the third and final section of a new state highway route north of Wellington designed to improve resilience and ease traffic congestion.

Ōtaki MP Nathan Guy said he was thankful the transport agency had finally made a decision and given affected residents some clarity.

"I'm encouraged by what I'm hearing, in that NZTA will be compassionate to residents who want to move quickly, settle, and get on with their lives."

Guy said there were still unanswered questions about funding, and he couldn't understand why a two-lane highway was to be built and not four lanes.

"I sympathise with the residents who are having their personal property impacted. Ultimately, it's about having a safer route ... they're taking one for the team."

Horowhenua mayor Michael Feyen said he would not comment on the preferred route until after the official announcement on Wednesday.