Two new tunnels earmarked for Wellington but will they deliver?

Wednesday, 6 November 2024

Two new tunnels are planned for Wellington to improve Wellington’s roading system after Transport Minister Simeon Brown confirmed the preferred options.

But opposition parties are sceptical, with the Greens calling it a “1950s-style solution”.

A second Mt Victoria Tunnel would run parallel to the existing tunnel and there would be a second Terrace Tunnel alongside the tunnel. The plan also extends the Arras tunnel under the Pukeahu National War memorial and there would be changes around the Basin Reserve.

“Without improvements to this critical route, within ten years the region could be looking at travel time increases of up to 50% between Ngāūranga and the airport,” Brown said in a statement.

But Labour said National looked set to break its election promise to have “shovels in the ground” on a second Mt Victoria tunnel this term.

“With nothing more than an investment case announced and a $6 billion hole in its transport budget, I don’t know how Simeon Brown will pull it off,” Labour transport spokesperson Tangi Utikere said in a statement.

And the Green Party’s spokesperson for Transport and Rongotai MP Julie Anne Genter said the plans would “dump more traffic in the centre of Wellington”.

“We know urban highway widening does not solve the problem. It’s a 1950s-style solution that makes traffic and pollution worse.”

Some city leaders were also cautious about the decision to build more roading in central Wellington.

“At first glance I would be concerned if these changes mean we are just funnelling more cars into our already busy city streets,” said mayor Tory Whanau.

Brown promised the projects would lead to significant time savings, roughly 10 minutes, for people travelling from Wellington’s northern suburbs to the city centre, hospital, and airport.

The time savings would be minutes greater, he said, for people travelling by bus from Island Bay to the railway station, and from Miramar into the city centre.

Whanau said she needed to see more detail from the Government about its plan.

“I do support the Basin Reserve improvements and am keen to work with the Government on the potential to unlock more housing development around that area.

“Ultimately, what we need for Wellington is an integrated transport plan that has some infrastructure improvements like these, combined with more investment in buses and trains to reduce congestion and emissions.”

Greater Wellington Regional Council chairperson Daran Ponter said it was “good to have a decision” that would unlock traffic through the city’s Eastern and Southern suburbs.

“In the long-term enhanced public transport provision needs to be in the mix,” he said.

“Greater Wellington Regional Council and WCC [Wellington City Council] are leaning into this with proposals for bus lanes on the Harbour Quays and Eastern suburbs.”

Wellington National MP Nicola Willis, also the finance minister, said a duplicate Terrace Tunnel would help “ease the frustrations caused by congestion when travelling southbound and enable faster and safer transportation of people and freight.

“This expanded package also includes upgrades to the Basin Reserve to reduce travel times and improve reliability for commuters.”

Brown said tunnels and highway changers would be consented in its entirety -- the project has been included in the Government’s fast-track project list -- and built in stages.

An investment case would be produced and delivered to the NZTA board in mid-2025.