Confirmed funding for major New Zealand Upgrade Programme (NZUP) infrastructure projects will provide certainty for communities and businesses in Northland, says Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency.
This includes recently approved $270 million funding for highway safety improvements between Tarewa Rd in Whangārei and the SH15 Port Marsden Highway roundabout.
The funding is part of the Government’s NZUP stimulus package announced in 2020 which includes an investment of $6.8 billion across 20 transport projects nationwide.
Waka Kotahi infrastructure delivery national manager Mark Kinvig says the Northland project will make the road safer and more forgiving of human error.
“It will provide additional safety measures including road widening, centre-median barriers, turnaround facilities, improved passing lanes, a shared path and signalised crossings in urban Whangārei.
“Once the business case is complete, the project will move into detailed design which includes planning where and how the safety measures will be implemented, where the turnaround bays will be located, refining the design of the shared path and considering other measures such as raised speed platforms and traffic lights.
“Confirming the detailed design will help us to understand property impacts as well as the consenting and procurement processes for the project,” Kinvig says.
Waka Kotahi will continue to engage with key partners and stakeholders, including hapū, local council, and communities throughout the process.
Construction is expected to begin in late 2025 subject to all necessary approvals.
“As an interim safety intervention and to start saving lives as soon as possible, we will be installing flexible safety posts in the centre of the road between Toetoe Rd and Port Marsden Highway,” Kinvig says.
