The government has announced new ‘Roads of National Significance' that will cost $10.5 billion to build – among them the Tauranga-Katikati section of State Highway 2.
Bay of Plenty MP Todd Muller says the infrastructure investment ‘will be a game changer for the Bay'.
He says the Tauranga-Katikati development, along with proposed improvements to State Highway 29 from Piarere to the foot of Kaimai Ranges, will ensure Tauranga maintains a strong connection to Katikati, Auckland and the Waikato.
'The new roads will offer road users a safer, more efficient route,” says Todd.
'Local communities and businesses, particularly our horticultural industry, are continuing to grow strongly along the Western Bay of Plenty's coastal peninsulas of Katikati, Omokoroa and Te Puna. Improvements to State Highway 2 between Tauranga and Katikati will support this growth and make vital improvements to one of New Zealand's fastest growing road corridors.”
He says Tauranga, Hamilton and Auckland are often referred to as the ‘Golden Triangle', a high volume freight route with around 9000 vehicles, including 1300 heavy vehicles, traveling over the Kaimai Range each day.
'As our economy continues to grow, it is forecast this number will only continue to grow. That's why we need to invest now, in a safer road with shorter drive times, which will represent the start of what will in time become the Hamilton to Tauranga Road of National Significance.”
These 10 new Roads of National Significance are expected to cost around $10.5 billion, on top of $12 billion invested in the initial seven, which are now either complete or under construction.
'The Roads of National Significance are lead infrastructure projects meaning we are investing now to encourage future economic growth, rather than waiting until the strain on the network becomes a handbrake on progress,” says Todd.
New Roads of National Significance
- Wellsford to Whangarei
- East West Link in Auckland
- Cambridge to Tirau
- Piarere to the foot of the Kaimai Ranges
- Tauranga to Katikati
- Napier to Hastings
- Manawatu Gorge
- Levin to Sanson
- Christchurch Northern Motorway
- Christchurch to Ashburton
17 comments
Sheer Electioneering
Posted on 20-08-2017 15:47 | By rosbo
Where is any sort out timetable on this? If National wins the election they will say the roads will be built but not for 10 years or so, so when they lose the one after this, nothing will have happened
What a
Posted on 20-08-2017 16:28 | By Merlin
What a rort some of this stuff is so far down the track the money would not have even been appropriated yet.Pure election propaganda.Still waiting for the 10 bridges in Northland.The moneys flowing out in the last few months just before an election.Also when are they are going to resume the superannuation contributions promised when the budget returned to surplus.Promises,promises and broken promises.
Roading
Posted on 20-08-2017 16:55 | By socantor01
How unambitious can you get???We need a full scale four lanes through to Paeroa! Not this sort of patchwork.
golly gosh
Posted on 20-08-2017 16:58 | By old trucker
If i can remember right, did the Govt,. not BUY UP a corridor of land and houses to build a new rd to bypass Tepuna to Kati Kati 20 odd years ago, me tinks so, what has happened to that,,now they say ,BEFORE the Election 10.5 BILLION on new roads,more promises which will not be KEPT,and only to get a vote,its all SMOKE AND MIRRORS,Simple is only playing TRICKS to get back in,DO NOT BE FOOLED this time AROUND people,Gosh Okamaraka hill needs SLICING off and straightend out,A LOT of lives have been LOST ON that S bend,and has cost $$$$$$$millions in insurance and BROKEN FAMILIES, ACC etc, but NO nothing scince,its a TRAP for young players both ways,to little too late,all this was PROMISED yrs ago all this stuff,All of a sudden ALL THIS MONEY is available, YEAH RIGHT,Thanks No1, 10-4 out. phew.
Timing and funding
Posted on 20-08-2017 18:16 | By Murray.Guy
Absolutely critical that local authorities are provided the timing with a focus on a guaranteed no later than finish date coupled with openness and honesty in regards funding. h region has been has been significantly penalised being saddled with two of our country's three toll roads which significantly limits our ability to secure the very best of outcomes. Sadly community confidence is understandably at a low in regards Getting a fair deal and promises being met.
.
Posted on 20-08-2017 18:36 | By Gee9000
Last ElectionTauranga,15th Ave Turret Rd 4 lanes New Bridge - Not DoneNorthland, 10 new bridges - Not DoneLook Out "B.S. Bill Is Loose"
When
Posted on 21-08-2017 05:15 | By johnmcd03
Will this be built before or after the four lane 15th Ave project promised a couple of elections back?
You've been in there a while Nats
Posted on 21-08-2017 05:27 | By cynical
So where were these magical highways all this time??
For The Record
Posted on 21-08-2017 07:42 | By backofthequeue
Four lanes for Turret Ave. Ten bridges for Northland. It is so much easier to espouse what is going to happen if elected than to explain why it didn't happen after you were.
Propaganda
Posted on 21-08-2017 09:42 | By waiknot
Some of these projects are so distant, there are at least 2 or 3 election promises left in them.
We've heard it all before - empty promises
Posted on 21-08-2017 10:22 | By AndyCap
You can promise a new road to the moon and back and some will lap it up, but more and more New Zealand voters are smarter than you give them credit for. The days of a last minute lolly scramble with the promise of roads and other stuff are gone. Years and years of policy to maintain and enrich the elite at the cost of our way of life in New Zealand - sorry chaps we've heard it all before!
Eastern Link
Posted on 21-08-2017 11:12 | By Border Patrol
Is someone able to tell me why the Eastern Link was completed between Te Maunga and Paengaroa and the same thing wasn't done on the northern route out of Tauranga (i.e Katikati side)? There must have been some reason, but why would you not do both at the same time? The answer is most likely the dollars, but why was the Paengaroa side favoured? Just curious. I also agree Murray, about the tolls on the eastern link- I regularly drive the TePuke highway and there is still a lot of traffic using this road and there is still a lot of accidents on it. I think the traffic would reduce and accidents decrease on the local road if the tolls were removed from the TEL.
@ Murray.Guy
Posted on 21-08-2017 15:01 | By MISS ADVENTURE
All true, that especially fails upon Tauranga Council and the dodgy self interest activities going on over TEL and tolls being imposed. It is my view that there was no merit at all in teh WBOP Councils pushing for the TEL 5 years or so early and as a consequence then having the burden fo tolls for 30-40 years, absolutel luncacy!
@ Border Patrol
Posted on 21-08-2017 15:05 | By MISS ADVENTURE
You say "Paengaroa side favoured", that was simply because NZTA bent the rules to accomodate the endless begging and moaning from TCC, WBOPDC and RBOP to allivate the build. NZTA did so on the basis of tolls being imposed. That simple thing has resulted in what will be perhaps $5 million of tolls collected annually and increasing over the next 40 odd years perhaps $300-500 million will be stripped out of the BOP area as a result. No meaningful reason, just "I WANT"
@ johnmcd03
Posted on 21-08-2017 15:18 | By MISS ADVENTURE
It was not "a couple" of elections ago, it was four ago ... still awaiting a result and in fact that is completely on the back burner list. We now rely upon Tauranga Council to stump up for that one, not going to happen.
Hey folks...
Posted on 23-08-2017 16:54 | By penguin
...HAVE YOU NOTICED THAT THERE IS AN ELECTION LOOMING? Once again the GOODY BAG HAS BEEN OPENED and the election BRIBES ABOUND. Pity the government has forgotten that most roads in NZ are NOT LIKELY TO BE ROADS OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE. Wouldn't it be nice if RECOGNITION WAS GIVEN TO SOME OF THE SECONDARY ROADS THAT ARE IN URGENT NEED OF REPAIR/MAINTENANCE - e.g. SH36 (Pyes Pa) which is being hammered by increasing traffic? Oh no; that road does not figure in the equation BECAUSE IT IS HIDDEN FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC'S VIEW. I can't help agreeing with some posts suggesting that little will happen with the RONS (roads of national significance) after the election. What Simon says does not always translate into what Simon does!
Border Patrol asks why TEL Priority.
Posted on 23-08-2017 22:35 | By Murray.Guy
Border Patrol asks: "Is someone able to tell me why the Eastern Link was completed between Te Maunga and Paengaroa and the same thing wasn't done on the northern route out of Tauranga (i.e Katikati side)?From where I sit, TCC, BOPRC and WBOPDC have significant land holdings, some in association with Carrus Corp (Te Tumu) that are costing ratepayers dearly. The three Councils conspired to manipulate consultation and processes to bring the construction of the TEL forward by five years to add value to those land holdings as a priority. NZTA agreed ONLY if the local authorities agreed to the TOLLING regime. If the TEL was genuinely about PORT access the flyovers at Bayfair and Te Maunga upgrades would have been included from the outset! The Northern Arterial was/is our economic priority with greater safety issues, higher traffic volumes, sacrificed for developer/Council dollars.
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