Transport Minister Simeon Brown has announced that NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) is moving ahead with the Government’s first seven Roads of National Significance (RoNS) projects with procurement, enabling works, and construction to take place within the next three years.
The Government is prioritising 17 RoNS projects, recently highlighted in the Government Policy Statement on Land Transport (GPS), and NZTA has appointed project teams to fast-track consenting, property acquisition, and design, and is engaging construction partners to advance the first phase of these projects.
“Delivering on commitments in our coalition agreements, we are moving at pace to progress a new generation of RoNS across the country to support economic growth and get people and freight to where they want to go, quickly and safely,” Brown says.
“There is plenty of work to be done, and I’m pleased to see NZTA taking the first steps to deliver upon the Government’s ambitious plan for New Zealand’s transport network.”
Takitimu North Link Stage 1 is already underway, with Ōtaki to North of Levin slated to start construction next year. The next phase includes:
- Belfast to Pegasus (including the Woodend Bypass)
- The Hawke’s Bay Expressway
- SH1 Cambridge to Piarere
- SH29 Tauriko
- Takitimu North Link Stage 2
- Mill Road
- Warkworth to Wellsford
“NZTA intends to approach the Northland Roads of National Significance as a single strategic corridor, with Warkworth to Wellsford the first section being focussed on,” Brown adds.
In addition to these seven projects, planning for the remaining RoNS will begin within the next three years.
“New Zealand needs fast-track legislation to ensure that we have a pipeline of consented infrastructure projects, such as the Roads of National Significance. The previous government abruptly stopped that infrastructure pipeline, which left us with Warkworth to Wellsford as the only new major roading project with a consent,” Brown says.
Investments in the corridors aim to ease travel for New Zealanders, create a more resilient transport network, drive economic growth, and unlock land for new homes.
“The RoNS projects previously built by National are some of New Zealand’s most successful State Highway corridors, reducing congestion and improving safety. Moving at pace to build a new generation of RoNS signals our Government’s focus on prioritising investments that deliver real value to commuters and businesses,” he says.
