Initial work will begin over the next few months on the Transmission Gully motorway north of Wellington.
The NZ Transport Agency announced today that the contract has been signed for this project to be delivered as New Zealand’s first public private partnership (PPP) for a state highway.
NZTA chief executive Geoff Dangerfield says the signing of a PPP contract between NZTA and the Wellington gateway partnership for the 27km Transmission Gully project marks a major step forward for the region.
“Today’s announcement means that Wellington can have certainty that Transmission Gully will be a reality. Work will get underway on the project in the coming months”.
The contract signing marks the completion of a contract negotiation process which began in December last year when NZTA announced the Wellington Gateway Partnership as the preferred bidder for the project after a competitive tender process.
Dangerfield says under the terms of the PPP contract the Wellington Gateway Partnership will design, construct, finance, operate and maintain the new Transmission Gully highway for the 25 years that will follow the expected five-year construction period. It is aimed to have Transmission Gully open for traffic by 2020.
Transmission Gully will be a key component of the 110km Wellington Northern Corridor Road of National Significance, which when fully completed will provide a more efficient highway connection from Levin to Wellington, connecting the city to the growing economic centres of Kapiti and the Manawatu and subsequently the wider North Island.
In the event of a major earthquake, it will be quicker to reinstate the Transmission Gully motorway than the existing State Highway 1.
The Transmission Gully motorway will also reduce traffic on the existing State Highway 1 which will provide a safer environment for communities along this route.
Dangerfield says Transmission Gully has consistently enjoyed strong support from residents and businesses in the Wellington region.
“This project will save lives, shorten journeys, make Wellington’s economy more competitive, and help keep us connected in a natural disaster. It will also remove heavy quantities of highway traffic from communities like Mana, Plimmerton and Pukerua Bay.”
He says providing best value for money for the public has always been an important consideration.
“A PPP will deliver value in several ways.
“It will deliver the project at a lower ‘whole of life’ cost than the public sector could expect to through conventional procurement. The incentives built into the PPP contract will ensure the completed highway will be flatter, wider, and straighter with enhanced safety features making it safer and more resilient to natural disasters and closures.
“The PPP model also encourages the most advanced technology and innovative approaches from overseas to be brought to the project. We can then apply these innovations on other roads right across New Zealand to make travel safer for everyone.”
Fran Wilde, Chair of the Regional Council and the Regional Transport Committee, says this is great news for Wellington.
“The current two lane SH1 is totally unacceptable in terms of capacity, exposure to high tides in storms and seismic risk. As well as servicing the capital and being a critical commuter road for the region, it carries national freight destined for the South Island – yet it still functions as it did a century ago. Transmission Gully will provide a huge degree of resilience for Wellington and for New Zealand on this important route”.
Porirua Deputy Mayor Ana Coffey says Porirua has been unwavering in its support for Transmission Gully Motorway.
“We’ve been waiting a long time for this day. This road is crucial – not just locally – but as a regional roading network that will provide greater route security and ease congestion for everyone in the Wellington region.
“It also helps secure the future economic vitality of the Wellington region by providing a sustainable transport infrastructure that will support economic growth for many decades.”
The Wellington Gateway Partnership consists of
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd
- HEB Construction Ltd
- Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC)
- InfraRed Infrastructure General Partner Ltd
- Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd (BTMU)
