Leading road and transport associations are backing the new route to replace Manawatu Gorge.
Road Transport Forum chief executive Ken Shirley says he is fully supportive of the option chosen by the NZ Transport Agency.
“RTF advocated strongly for Option 3 during the consultation process as it is the most suitable route for road freight, taking into account all the geographical challenges, proposed gradients and future resilience,” Shirley says.
“We are pleased that local communities, businesses and road transport companies who depend on crossing the lower North Island now know what to expect in terms of the new route and the timeline for construction.”
“NZTA must also be commended for the robust and inclusive consultation process they ran to get to this stage. A project such as this includes a huge variety of stakeholders and it is a credit to the Agency that they were able to run such a thorough process within the timeframe they did.”
“It is also encouraging that NZTA will continue investigations into the efficacy of the proposed Regional Freight Ring Road and new bridge across the Manawatu River. Palmerston North is becoming an increasingly important freight hub of national significance and it is vital to support this with the appropriate infrastructure.”
“Key investments such as this mustn’t be put on the back-burner as they are critical to the lower North Island and New Zealand’s ongoing economic growth. RTF looks forward to being involved in supporting this project,” Shirley says.
Manawatu AA district chairman Garry Goodman is also backing the announcement and says consultation has led to the best decision.
“This decision will enable NZTA and the councils to collaborate and develop an integrated network.
“It’s a good outcome that justifies the additional time NZTA decided to take late last year to consider the options.
“The AA is now satisfied that they have properly looked at the economic impacts of all the different options.
“A wider network outlook is needed for freight and private motorists. We need an efficient inter-regional route and good access into Palmerston North. This is why we’re pleased they have confirmed that the Regional Ring Road and a second bridge across the Manawatu River are also part of the big picture.
“We’re aware that for the public and freight operators, waiting until 2024 for this new road to open is a long time. But we also think that a good process is being followed to reach the right decision and all our regions will be better off in the long-run,” Goodman says.
The AA believes the new SH3 section will meet the features it identified as essential for the new road such as gradients that suit trucks without impeding other vehicles, efficiency in terms of travel time and enhanced safety and resilience.
