NZTA cops heavy criticism for snubbing Hutt Valley transport proposals

Friday, 19 April 2019

Funding has been approved for an interchange on State Highway 2 at Melling.

With two major roading projects shelved for at least a decade, frustration is palpable in the Hutt Valley, and those outside the region have also slammed the decisions.

The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) announced on Wednesday a proposed interchange on State Highway 2 at Melling, including a new bridge over the Hutt River, would not be considered for funding until at least 2029.

The announcement came a week after the agency decided to send a proposed four-lane highway between Petone and Grenada back to the drawing board, with no decision on its funding until 2028.

Funding for an interchange on State Highway 2 at Melling won't be considered for at least a decade.

The interchange would replace the traffic light-controlled intersection at Melling to reduce congestion, while the highway link would connect the Hutt Valley and northern Wellington.

**READ MORE:

An artist's impression of the proposed Petone-to-Grenada highway, which has also been shelved by the New Zealand Transport Agency. (File photo)

* Melling interchange funding decade away

* Petone-Grenada delayed by by a decade

The interchange would remove the traffic light-controlled intersection on State Highway 2 at Melling.

* Bridge delay could impact Hutt flood protection

* MP fears Hutt road plans will suffer**

Along with a proposed new bridge over the Hutt River, it is crucial to Lower Hutt's flood protection plans.

The interchange is central to Lower Hutt's $50 million RiverLink project, which involves strengthening the Hutt River stopbanks to prevent flooding.

Designers say an interchange and new bridge are crucial to the project, because the existing bridge restricts the level of flood protection the area could have.

Lower Hutt Mayor Ray Wallace says the delay is putting people's lives at risk. (File photo)

Mayor Ray Wallace said the delay put residents 'at serious risk of a devastating flood'.

'Why must we wait and jeopardise the lives and livelihoods of our residents and businesses?

Hutt South MP Chris Bishop has called the Melling decision a 'disaster'. (File photo)

'With the amount of money being spent in other parts of the country, this is an incredibly bitter pill to swallow.'

Hutt South MP Chris Bishop called the decision to defer the Melling interchange 'disastrous' and 'ridiculous'.

Road Transport Forum chief executive Nick Leggett says trucking companies in the Hutt Valley are 'gutted' by the decisions. (File photo)

'It is a vital project and would ease congestion and improve safety, and is a key component of the RiverLink project,' Bishop said.

Criticism has also come from outside the Hutt Valley.

NZTA's preferred design for the interchange, which would include a bridge across the Hutt River to Queens Drive.

The Wellington Chamber of Commerce has requested a 'please explain' from Minister of Transport Phil Twyford.

'Is the Government interested in solving these issues or not? Because it doesn't look like it,' chief executive John Milford said.

NZTA director of regional relationships Emma Speight said certainty about the location of the interchange would enable designers to progress with flood protection plans. (File photo)

'Many thousands of commuters and a huge amount of freight goes through Melling on State Highway 2 every day, but it's becoming clogged and that's affecting efficiency and hurting productivity.'

Twyford's office directed questions to NZTA.

The Road Transport Forum, which represents road freight operators, said trucking companies in the Hutt Valley were 'absolutely gutted' by both decisions, particularly Melling.

'That's going to further grind traffic to a halt on State Highway 2,' chief executive Nick Leggett said.

'Really, it's just further evidence that roading infrastructure is taking a back seat.'

Delays in delivering freight impacted the economy, with the cost ultimately passed down to consumers 'on the supermarket shelves', Leggett said.

Automobile Association infrastructure spokesperson Barney Irvine said NZTA had not provided 'nearly enough detail' on its decision to take the Petone-to-Grenada highway back to the drawing board.

The agency had failed to consider the wider implications of the delay on the region's roading network, he said.

Meanwhile, Speaker of the House Trevor Mallard posted on Twitter the Melling decision was made by 'people who don't understand the way flood and transport projects are linked'.

'Poor-quality NZTA decision-making. Systems need to change.'

NZTA director of regional relationships, Emma Speight, said a re-evaluation of the highway project recommended it be redesigned with a focus on resilience, safety, and improving transport choices.

The interchange proposal aligned with the Government's transport priorities and funding for the next phase, including further design and consenting, would be considered early next year.

'Both projects aim to improve accessibility and efficiency, but it's important to get them right and ensure we balance them against funding priorities across the country.'

Speight said with the preferred location for the interchange now determined, designers could move ahead with certainty on flood protection plans.