Wellington highways snubbed as Government announces transport spend

Friday, 31 August 2018

Transport Minister Phil Twyford says much of the $16.9 billion will be spent on improving road safety.

Two major highway projects proposed for the Wellington region look to have fallen by the wayside, raising concerns they will never be built.

Transport Minister Phil Twyford revealed the Government's transport spending plans for the next three years on Friday, with the Wellington region to receive $1.9 billion of the record $16.9b to be spent nationwide.

A large chunk of Wellington's funding will be spent on maintaining and improve existing state highways ($759m) and local roads ($332m).

The proposed Petone-Grenada highway north of Wellington looks unlikely to be built any time soon. (File photo)

But there were also some glaring omissions. Among the projects overlooked in the National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) were the proposed Petone-Grenada highway, linking Wellington and Lower Hutt, and the Ōtaki to north of Levin highway, which was intended to reduce highway traffic through Levin.

**READ MORE:

The Wairarapa rail line could be in line for a much-needed upgrade as part of the Government's National Land Transport Programme. (File photo)

* Transport plans to be unveiled

The 27km Transmission Gully motorway north of Wellington has been designed specifically to withstand an earthquake.

* $200m needed for rail network

* $2.3b plan to ease congestion

* $2.3b tunnel proposed for Wellington

* Public supports new Basin road**

Existing highway projects, such as the Transmission Gully motorway, will receive $759m in maintenance and improvements. (File photo)

The New Zealand Transport Agency said both of those projects, along with proposed improvements to State Highway 2 in Lower Hutt, were all being re-evaluated.

Concrete plans to improve Wellington's inner-city transport network, developed as part of the Let's Get Wellington Moving working group, were also absentfrom the funding announcement, meaning any possible bridges, trenches, or duplicate tunnels were unlikely to go ahead within the next three years.

But there was good news for public transport users, with $614 million to be pumped into the network between now and 2021, including $106m to buy new trains and upgrade large sections of the ageing rail lines between Wellington and Wairarapa.

Another $83m will be invested in walking and cycling infrastructure, including the shared pathway between Petone and Ngauranga and the Eastern Bays cycleway.

'This record investment in our transport system will help grow our regions, make it easier to get around our cities, and save lives on our roads. It will deliver the best results for our transport dollar,' Twyford said.

But Ōhāriu-based MP Brett Hudson, National's associate transport spokesman, said Wellingtonians had been 'short-changed' by the lack of investment in roading.

'The Government has been working for some time on the Let's Get Wellington Moving project, and at the very heart of that initiative is State Highway 1,' he said.

'There is no confidence for Wellingtonians, in this announcement, that they're going to get something that's warranted.'

National MP for Hutt South Chris Bishop was similarly outraged, saying the Petone-Grenada highway, which was vital to the future growth of the region, had been 'consigned to the scrapheap'.

'When you cut $5 billion for state highways, that's one of the projects that's going to miss out,' he said.

'This is a critical project for the Wellington region and reading between the lines, it's pretty much been put in the 'never, never' pile.'

Bishop welcomed investments in public transport, walking and cycling, but said they should not be at the expense of projects such as the Petone-Grenada highway.

Emma Speight, the transport agency's director of regional relationships, said a dozen proposed highways across the country were now being reviewed to assess whether they were compatible the Government's transport vision.

'This is really important work that our teams are working hard on, but have not been completed at the time the NLTP has been adopted. For this reason, decisions on these projects are not covered by the NLTP announcement.'

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NZTA

Transport projects planned for the Wellington region between 2018 and 2021.

Road safety charity Brake welcomed the Government's $4.3b investment in road safety programmes across the country.

'Our regions experience some significant road safety issues, and a large proportion of deaths and serious injuries occur on our open roads, so increased investment in these areas is greatly needed,' director Caroline Perry said.

WHAT THE WELLINGTON REGION GETS

$1.92 billion invested over three years

$759 million to maintain and improve existing highways

$614m for public transport

$332m for local roads

$83m for cycling and walking

$43m in safety upgrades for SH58

WELLINGTON CITY

Wellington will receive the bulk of the planned $83 million investment in walking and cycling infrastructure, including the shared pathway between Petone and Ngauranga and the Eastern Bays cycleway.

There will be $759m available to maintain and improve existing state highways including the Transmission Gully motorway and the Kāpiti expressway. But the proposed Ōtaki to north of Levin highway is being reconsidered.

There will be $614m invested in public transport, including $106m for upgrading the Wairarapa rail line and buying new trains. Electric double-decker and low-emission buses, bus hubs and rail Park and Ride amenities will be considered priorities.

HUTT VALLEY

A $45m investment for safety improvements has been set aside, including two new roundabouts and median and roadside barriers on State Highway 58 between Hutt Valley and Porirua.

Another $43m will be used to create a shared path for walkers and cyclists from Ngauranga to Petone, and to create a seawall to protect the path and rail line along SH2.

There will also be consideration given to new cycling and walking paths as part of a region-wide $83m investment.

The Petone-Grenada highway and SH2 improvements at Melling, as part of the RiverLink project, are both being re-evaluated.

WAIRARAPA

One of the two rail infrastructure projects that have been earmarked as part of a $106m spend will see tracks through the Wairarapa renewed.

Median and roadside barriers, intersection improvements and speed management will be used along SH2 to improve safety between Wellington and rural Wairarapa.

HAWKE'S BAY

The region will receive a $324m investment, including $13m for public transport.

A bridge-strengthening programme has been announced to open up more roads to support heavier freight trucks and forestry industry growth.

There will be further funding for the iWay Napier cycle network, as well as upgrades to Hawke's Bay 'blackspot intersections', including the Watchman Road-Hawke's Bay intersection.

There will be improvements on SH2, the Hawke's Bay expressway, and SH5.

Funding for safety promotion programmes on cycling and walking tracks will be delivered in schools and communities.

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