New Zealand Green Party spokesperson, Julie Ann Genter, has called on the government to reduce the US $ 9.73bn (NZD 12bn) earmarked for a national road upgrade project. According to Genter only 400,000 vehicles, 4% of the nation’s 11 million vehicles, are expected to use proposed new roads linking Tauranga, Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington and Hamilton.
August 23, 2012
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New Zealand Green Party spokesperson, Julie Ann Genter, has called on the government to reduce the US $ 9.73bn (NZD 12bn) earmarked for a national road upgrade project.
According to Genter only 400,000 vehicles, 4% of the nation’s 11 million vehicles, are expected to use proposed new roads linking Tauranga, Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington and Hamilton.
New Zealand transport minister Simeon Brown is considering tolling seven new “Roads of National Significance” if that would speed their completion.
Media reports noted that NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) said procurement and construction of the roads could start within the next three years.
The projects are Belfast-to-Pegasus, the Hawke’s Bay Expressway, SH1 Cambridge-to-Piarere, State Highway 29 Tauriko, Takitimu North Link Stage 2, Mill Road and Warkworth-to-Wellsford.
The western Bay of Plenty region in New Zealand, south of Auckland on the North Island, is one of the fastest-growing regions in the country. Growing traffic in the area, with many serious crashes, strained road systems. To improve safety, access, travel options, and to support economic development in the area, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency initiated the Takitimu North Link project.