The National Road Carriers Association (NRC) has welcomed the publication of NZTA’s Major Transport Projects Pipeline, saying it will improve the resilience, safety and productivity of New Zealand’s transport network.
“NRC is pleased to see progress on these important projects as they add much needed resilience, safety and productivity,” says NRC general manager policy and advocacy James Smith.
“As the projects reach their construction stages it will also provide much needed work for NRC members in the civil sector.”
The NZ Transport Agency’s pipeline sets out the delivery programme for the government’s Roads of National Significance (RoNS), major public transport projects and other key transport infrastructure across three phases:
- Phase One: Under construction and procurement – by early next year six Roads of National Significance will be under construction.
- Phase Two: Preparing for construction and route protection – as funding becomes available these projects can progress to construction.
- Phase Three: Continuing more slowly – work on these projects will progress at a slower pace than those in Phase Two, with some projects continuing preparation for further route protection.
Transport Minister Chris Bishop says the approach provides greater certainty for the construction sector.
“The construction sector has been clear it needs a strong pipeline of future work. That is why the Government committed to the 17 RoNS listed in the 2024 Transport Government Policy Statement, and major public transport projects,” Bishop says.
“We’ve always seen the roads and public transport projects as part of a multi-year pipeline to drive jobs and growth around the country, and today’s pipeline release reflects that.”
The pipeline shows the Ōtaki to north of Levin RoNS, Hawke’s Bay Expressway, Takitimu North Link Stage 1 and SH29 Tauriko West are under construction, while the first stage of the Northland Expressway and Cambridge to Piarere are progressing through procurement.
“By early next year, six RoNS will be under construction,” Bishop says.
Projects including Belfast to Pegasus, Takitimu North Link Stage 2, Mill Road Stage 1 and further stages of Auckland’s Northwest Busway will continue through planning, consenting and route protection, while Auckland’s East West Link, Petone to Grenada and later sections of the Northland Expressway will progress at a slower pace.
“The pipeline shows why a phased approach to delivering the Roads of National Significance is important. As I’ve said many times, not all projects can start immediately,” Bishop says.
“Major new corridors are important, but New Zealanders also need a safe, reliable and resilient transport system every day.”
The full Major Transport Projects Pipeline is available on the NZTA website.
