Hutt's Cross Valley project critical to region's prosperity, business leaders say

Wednesday, 22 September 2021

The Cross Valley Connections project will be designed to ease the burden on roads like Petone’s Esplanade which are often jammed with traffic from south eastern parts of Lower Hutt.

After more than half a century of debate, the proposed Cross Valley Connections network linking the Seaview industrial hub and State Highway 2 passed a major milestone yesterday, in a move that was heralded by business leaders across the region.

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency accepted the Hutt City Council’s business case for the project – formerly known in part as the Cross Valley Link – paving the way for it to receive funding from the central government. The council has already budgeted up to $160 million from its own coffers.

“It will boost the region’s economy and increase employment opportunities in the valley,” said Mark Skelly, president and acting chief executive of the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce, hailing the project as a key infrastructure upgrade that would address Lower Hutt’s growing congestion problem.

The road across the southern part of Lower Hutt has been touted as a multimodal transport project, including bus routes, and walking and cycling connections.

Transmission Gully will direct more traffic and freight onto the Hutt Valley from SH1 when it opens.

* 'Totally unsatisfactory': Public transport focus sees Waka Kotahi manager earn grilling from deputy mayor

* Lower Hutt's RiverLink: The $700m project to fix a river and a city

Skelly said the cross-valley transport route was particularly important because Transmission Gully will attract traffic and freight from roads in Kāpiti and Porirua, potentially further increasing congestion on the route to Seaview.

A flyover filmed in May shows the latest progress on the Transmission Gully motorway, due to open in 2021.

Transmission Gully was due to open on Monday but has been delayed due to Covid-19, with a new date yet to be confirmed.

Mike Henderson, chairman of the Seaview Business Association, said the congestion problems were plaguing existing cross-valley routes.

The Petone Esplanade and Jackson St retail area were traversed by tens of thousands of vehicles crossing from Moera, Wainuiomata, the eastern bays and the industrial zone daily, he said.

Vehicles making multiple trips to ferry goods could spend “a couple of hours a day” moving along the Esplanade, Henderson said.

Better transport options were critical to keeping jobs in Lower Hutt, he said, adding that the development of industrial areas in Kāpiti could lure businesses away.

The Seaview to SH2 road could not solve the city’s congestion problems alone – it would have to work in conjunction with other major transport projects like the $420m Melling Interchange, he said.

Hutt City mayor Campbell Barry said Waka Kotahi’s acceptance of the project was confirmation that it had merit. He said it had taken six years to get the initial business case right, and the council would now have to develop more detailed plans concerning the design and route on which Waka Kotahi could make funding decisions.

Barry was hopeful funding for parts of the project could be granted within the next 18 months. “We’re looking to move along as quickly as possible.”

Waka Kotahi director of regional relationships Emma Speight said the project would support urban development, and provide a greater range of transport options in the city.