David Randle owns and lives on a 1.67ha section, the front of which is earmarked for use by the NZTA as part of the Caversham Bypass four-laning project.
His continued negotiations have been accelerated by a recent acquisition notice, signed by land information minister Maurice Williamson and publicly notified.
It gives Mr Randle and any other registered party less than a month to lodge a written objection, which could be subject to a hearing.
Mr Randle said he did not oppose the project encroaching on his land, nor was he trying to delay or stop progress.
He wanted the NZTA to build a noise wall between the highway and his home, as it planned to do on the opposite side of the road.
"I'm not trying to stop them, but under the [Resource Management Act] they have to mitigate and what they are offering doesn't cut the mustard," he said.
Mr Randle has been offered a compensation package and some money for the 540sq m of his land to be used for the project, as well as a new access way.
He was contacted just over two years ago about the NZTA's intention to use part of his section for the highway upgrade, which would see the main thoroughfare moved 15m closer to his 1886 house.
Mr Randle understood the project's importance and said negotiation had been largely positive to date, but he was still hoping to secure noise mitigation for his property.
He said sound from the highway would bounce off the opposite noise wall and towards his home.
About 26,000 vehicles travel the route each day.
Truck drivers were asked not to use engine brakes, but many did, Mr Randle said.
He bought the section 30 years ago, when South Rd was the main route and Caversham Valley Rd a "quiet suburban street".
An ecologist and wildlife manager, Mr Randle has been involved in ecological mitigation for the project, in regard to protecting the rare peripatus invertebrate living among the dank bush in Caversham Valley.
The velvet-skinned, caterpillar- like worm was a 500-million-year-old "living fossil" often referred to as the "missing link" between worms and legged arthropods, he said.
Mr Randle said the NZTA had been "very responsible" with its ecological mitigation.
In a written response to the Otago Daily Times, NZTA projects team manager Simon Underwood said a settlement resulting from negotiation with Mr Randle, which may consist of financial compensation and or remedial works, would take account of the assessed effects of the highway works on the property.
"As with any land purchase agreement, the NZTA will need to regard the terms of such as confidential to the parties involved," he said.
