New Zealand bypass project attracts controversy

New Zealand’s Mount Messenger bypass project has attracted some controversy and opposition. The 5.2km route will cost around US$129 million (NZ$200 million) to construct and will include two bridges as well as a tunnel section. The alignment has been selected from five options as it minimise environmental damage. However there are complaints from environmentalists that the project will damage a 44ha area that includes forest and wetlands as well as posing a threat to some endangered bird life.
July 18, 2019 Read time: 1 min

New Zealand’s Mount Messenger bypass project has attracted some controversy and opposition. The 5.2km route will cost around US$129 million (NZ$200 million) to construct and will include two bridges as well as a tunnel section. The alignment has been selected from five options as it minimise environmental damage. However there are complaints from environmentalists that the project will damage a 44ha area that includes forest and wetlands as well as posing a threat to some endangered bird life.

Road Structures

Related Content

  • New connection linking major Dutch highways
    October 21, 2014
    In the Netherlands plans are in hand for a new connection between the A50 and N279 highways. This new link will be constructed in Noord-Brabant Province. The initial plan was for a tunnel running underneath a nature reserve that would carry the four lane highway. However the cost of this option is significantly higher than the other possible solution, constructing the highway through the reserve. The latter option is preferred by the local authorities due to the cost saving but may face opposition on enviro
    Read More
  • Bulgaria road tunnel tender recommencing
    June 20, 2017
    The tender process for a tunnel project on Bulgaria’s Struma Highway is now reopening. The project did go to tender earlier this year but has now had to be restarted following unexpected technical issues.
    Read More
  • Vietnam’s North-South Expressway project prioritised
    October 20, 2017
    Vietnam’s Ministry of Transport is prioritising the construction of the North-South expressway project. It is seeking the approval of the Vietnamese Government approval to speed up the development of a 713km stretch of the expressway. This particular section of the expressway is phase one of the project and has an estimated construction cost of US$ 5.73 billion. Just over half of the construction cost will be paid for by private investors while Government bonds are expected to pay for the remaining sum. Thi
    Read More
  • Washington DC’s historic bridge replacement project
    June 11, 2019
    The project to replace a historic bridge in US capital Washington DC is providing major challenges for its builders - Mike Woof writes
    Read More

Highlighted Content