More to the Melling Link than just easing congestion on State Highway 2

Monday, 27 May 2019

Hutt Valley commuters are crying out for an interchange on State Highway 2 at Melling to relieve traffic congestion.

Delaying the Melling Link risks a 'catastrophe' that threatens the future of Lower Hutt's central business district.

That was the blunt message from Prue Lamason, a regional councillor from the Lower Hutt ward, to a meeting on Monday night on the future of the proposed interchange on State Highway 2.

The New Zealand Transport Agency recently announced that a decision on funding the Melling Link was delayed until at least 2028.

Cr Lamason told the meeting, organised by National's Hutt South MP Chris Bishop, that the real purpose of the project was in danger of being lost.

**READ MORE:

Nearly 300, mostly gray haired residents attended Monday nights meeting to discuss the Melling Link project.

* Extra 12,000 cars on State Highway 2

* Mayor unhappy with transport delays

* Hutt reps want action on roading decisions**

'We are forgetting that the RiverLink project is first and foremost all about public safety.'

National Hutt South Chris Bishop tolf Monday night meeting that Melling Link is vital to the economic well being of Hutt City.

RiverLink is Greater Wellington's plan to upgrade the Hutt River stopbanks in the central city to withstand a one-in-440 year flood.

The cost of the Hutt River breaching the stopbank is estimated at $2 billion and to get the maximum flood protection the regional council needs NZTA to build a new Melling Bridge.

Without a new bridge, RiverLink can only deliver protection to a one-in-200 year flood.

'What is at stake is a potential catastrophe … Greater Wellington and, I believe, the Government must honour the promise that has been made to the people of Hutt City, which is that we will provide for the safety of people and assets from the increasing likelihood of flooding driven by more and more volatile weather.'

Lamason said the Government was playing 'Russian roulette' with the lives and livelihoods of Hutt residents.

Greater Wellington remained committed to improving flood protection but without a new bridge the project was significantly compromised.

Funding for a proposed interchange at Melling in Lower Hutt won't be considered for almost a decade.

BIshop said he was delighted by the turnout of nearly 300 but he was 'annoyed' that NZTA did not attend.

The message he wanted NZTA to take on board was that Melling Link was more than just a roading project.

It had benefits that go well beyond easing congestion on State Highway 2 and was vitally important for the future economic viability of the city, he said.

If NZTA had attended the meeting, he would have asked why there was no money for such an important project.

'People want to know why no money has been approved for this.'

Without a new bridge at Melling, plans to upgrade Lower Hutt's flood protection are significantly compromised.

Mayor Ray Wallace said he was 'frustrated' that Melling had no funding but he would continue to fight to see to see it built.

He noted that the NZTA board supported the project and Transport Minister Phil Twyford has said it 'ticked all the boxes' on a number of occasions.

He urged those at the meeting to put pressure on the Government to force it to find the funding.

Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce chief executive Helen Down said Melling and other roading projects like Petone-Grenada Link and Cross Valley Link were critical to the local economy.

Businesses were being hurt by congestion and the Government had to show leadership and find a way to fund Melling.