Cheat sheet: The Government's 15 Roads of National Significance

Monday, 11 March 2024

Residents who have been bypassed by the Peka Peka to Otaki Expressway say the area is flourishing one year on, with new businesses opening and less congestion around their communities.

The Government has brought back the concept of “Roads of National Significance” (RONS), and lists 15 projects it considers to be in that category.

It wants the roads, which will cost many billions of dollars, built “as quickly as possible”. All will be four-laned, grade-separated highways.

When will the roads be built, and what’s the cost?

Few details were included in the Government announcement, but more information was provided last July in National’s pre-election transport policy. Here are the projects, with indications of timing and cost:

Opening for the new road between Puhoi and Warkworth last June.

Alternative to Brynderwyns

This is a hilly stretch of State Highway 1 south of Whangārei. In its pre-election policy, National said its “long-term vision” was four lanes from Whangārei to Tauranga. The final stages of that vision included an alternative route for the Brynderwyns, and the section between Tauranga and the SH1 turnoff, which would require a new route across the Kaimai Range.

Damage to SH1 over the Brynderwyns caused by Cyclone Gabrielle in February, 2023. The hilly stretch of highway was closed for 7 weeks - with a 6-day open window over Easter - from late February 2024, to allow repairs to be carried out.

So more of a fanciful notion for now, but National did promise that planning for both stages - each about 50km - would start in its first term.

Whangārei to Port Marsden

The 22km of SH1 from Whangārei south to the turnoff to SH15, which leads to Marsden Pt, where the port is. The project was expected to start in 1-3 years and estimated to cost $1.3 billion.

Warkworth to Wellsford

A 26km expressway that would join to the marvellous new Puhoi-Warkworth road. It would rejoin the existing SH1 north of Te Hana. The project was expected to start in 4-10 years, and had an estimated cost of $2.2b.

Cambridge to Piaere

The notorious intersection of SH1, south of Cambridge, with SH29 - the road to Tauranga. A roundabout is being built now, but the longer term plan is for a new four-lane highway.

You’re zipping south on SH1 at an untroubled 110kph until the end of the Cambridge bypass brings a return to something more like 80kph as long lines of traffic queue behind some slow moving vehicle at the front. This project will extend the stretch of free flowing road another 16km to Piarere, where traffic divides into two streams - heading east on SH29 to Tauranga, or continuing south on SH1.

The project is due to start in 1-3 years, and is estimated to cost a comparatively frugal $721m.

Tauriko West State Highway 29

An upgrade to the Tauranga western corridor, with a start date 4-10 years away, and an estimated cost of $1.9b.

Mill Rd, Auckland

A 21.5km highway from Manukau to Drury. Pre-election, National was talking about building the first 7.5km northern section, with a start in 1-3 years, and an estimated $1.3b cost.

East West Link

Resurrected after being killed off in 2017 by the Labour-led government in power at the time, this project passes through a major Auckland industrial area, and links SH20 at Onehunga and SH1 at Mt Wellington. It was expected to start in 1-3 years and had an estimated cost of $1.9b.

The Petone to Grenada highway would connect the Hutt Valley and northern Wellington. (File photo)

Hamilton Southern Links

To support growth in southern Hamilton, including many thousands of new homes, this project includes 21km of state highway and 11km of urban arterial roads. It had a start date of 4-10 years, and an estimated cost of $600m.

Petone to Grenada Link Road and the Cross Valley Link

The Wairoa Awa River Bridge being buiilt in the first stage of the Takitimu North Link.

A new link between SH1 in northwest Wellington and SH2 in the Hutt Valley, along with a new west-east connection across the Hutt Valley. Expected to start sometime in the next 4-10 years, and had an estimated $1.8b cost.

North West Alternative State Highway (SH16)

An alternative to SH16 in northwest Auckland, this road would link to the Brigham Creek Rd roundabout at one end, and at a point between Huapai and Waimauku at the other. It would support growth of 44,300 houses and 21,600 jobs, and had an estimated cost of $2.3b. An estimated start date was 4-10 years away.

The narrow Mt Victoria tunnel that is on the main route between Wellington Airport and most of the rest of the city.

Takitimu Northern Link Stage 2

A 7km stretch of highway to replace an existing section of SH2 from Te Puna, on the northwestern outskirts of Tauranga, to Ōmokoroa. It will link to the 6.8km first stage of the link, from Tauranga to Te Puna, which is being built. Stage 2 was expected to start in 1-3 years, with a $627m estimated cost.

Hawkes Bay Expressway

Information about the timing and cost of this project is not see easy to find, but the gist of it is self-evident - four-laning the full 24km length of the link between Napier and Hastings.

Second Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve upgrade

Expect quite the stoush over this one, which seems destined for fast track legislation now going through Parliament. National’s pre-election document had an expected start date of 3-5 years, but during the election campaign the party said it would start the project in its first term. The estimated cost was $2.2b.

Hope Bypass

One of only two RONS south of Cook Strait, this will be a new route for traffic travelling on SH6 through Richmond, south of Nelson. Estimated start date was 4-10 years, and estimated cost $250m, so it’s the cheapest of the 15 projects.

Belfast to Pegasus Motorway and Woodend Bypass

Running from Belfast, on the northeastern outskirts of Christchurch, north to Pegasus, this would be an extension to the Christchurch Northern Corridor. With an expected start date of 1-3 years, it might be the most likely of the 15 projects to get cracking soon. Estimated cost is also a relatively affordable $270m.