The Eastern Arterial Motorway v Route K Toll Road?
With PM Key dropping large hints that only education will get anything extra in the next budget, there is every likelihood that the ratepaying 'Turkey's of Tauranga” will be saved from the second toll road because it will likely be 'canned”.
At a massive cost of $560 million (23km of road, $24,350 for each metre) and rising. The needs of Christchurch are considerably more real than a four lane toll road through what is essentially a random mix of bog, peat and wetlands that is blatantly apparent from the random undulations of Bell Road.
The best part is that the delay could mean the road will be fully paid for by NZTA in a few years, that means no tolls for some 40-50 years for everyone. The local Councils 'wanted” it sooner by a few years than NZTA planned hence tolls were imposed. The saviour of Tauranga may well be the 'fickle finger of fate” and ratepayers could survive a little longer as the endangered species. Fate could save ratepayers from Tauranga's current regime's ‘proven leadership' just in the nick of time.
Route K is but a puppy compared to the potential financial maelstrom oozing from the Eastern Arterial.
A Barnes, Tauranga