Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has officially opened Wellington’s Transmission Gully motorway – the largest Government investment in New Zealand’s infrastructure in a generation.
The opening comes in time for the Easter break, school holidays, and the return of tourists to New Zealand, she says.
The new motorway is set to shorten peak journeys by seven to 15 minutes, carry 25,000 vehicles a day and improve productivity by saving travellers 1640 hours a day across the network.
“Transmission Gully will transform the Wellington region, making it quicker and safer for people and goods to travel through the lower North Island.
“It is an example of modern infrastructure that features the highest safety measures, treads lightly through the environment and is future proofed for generations to come.
“Projects like this will help New Zealand to bounce back better from COVID-19, which is why the Government is investing a record amount in infrastructure to reconnect New Zealanders, reduce emissions and support the economic recovery,” Ardern says.
Infrastructure minister Grant Robertson says Transmission Gully provides a safer and more reliable route to ensure Wellington remains connected in the event of an earthquake or major storm severing other transport routes.
“The new motorway will also have economic benefits with faster movement of freight and more resilience in our transport links.”
Robertson acknowledges the lengthy delays in the project but points the finger at the “botched” public-private partnership (PPP) model led by the National government in 2012.
Transmission Gully was the first motorway in New Zealand set up under a PPP. It was set back by months of delays and budget blowouts bringing the overall cost of the 27 kilometre road to around $1.25 billion.
“It’s important we learn from National’s mistakes, and we’ve asked the Infrastructure Commission Te Waihanga to revise New Zealand’s PPP guidance to make sure any future PPPs don’t encounter these same issues.
“Wellingtonians deserve proper answers as to why this road took so long to be completed, so we’re committed to undertaking another review to learn all the lessons from this debacle,” Robertson says.
Transport minister Michael Wood says Transmission Gully is one of the most significant and complex new roading projects ever undertaken in New Zealand.
The road spans 27 kilometres of very challenging terrain, requiring innovative environmental and construction techniques.
“What was a series of steep valleys, criss-crossed with streams, and flanked by inaccessible hills, is now a state-of-the-art motorway that crosses gullies, passes over waterways and winds through pristine native bush. Around two and a half million native trees and plants were planted as part of the project,” Wood says.
“Everyone should get where they’re going safely whether they’re walking, cycling, driving, motorcycling or using public transport.
“Transmission Gully is built to the highest safety specifications and will provide a much safer route for road users. The new motorway will also see fewer vehicles using the old coastal route.
“Thanks to the ongoing work by Waka Kotahi, in partnership with iwi and local councils, safety improvements will be made on that route and throughout the region. Together, this means that lives will be saved and many serious injuries will be prevented,” Wood says.
The Government, local mayors, iwi, stakeholders and community gathered to cut the ribbon on March 30.
The 27-kilometre motorway from Wellington through Kapiti will open to traffic on Thursday, March 31.
