The New Zealand Government is planning a road improvement programme worth a total of US$7.68 billion (NZ$10.05 billion). The plans will see 10 of the country’s busiest road links being classified of National Significance. A combination of financing from the National Land Transport Fund and public-private partnerships will pay for the various projects being included. One of the highways to be improved will be the Napier-Hastings highway in Hawke’s Bay, with it being widened to four lanes to boost capacity.
The New Zealand Government is setting out plans to try to boost road safety during 2018. This follows a disappointing safety record on the country’s roads in 2017. There were 380 people killed on New Zealand’s road network during 2017, the highest figure since 2009. In a bid to boost safety, the New Zealand Government has set a budget of US$16.5 million (NZ$22.5 million) to tackle safety issues on the stretches of rural roads identified as having the highest risk to users.
Plans are now in hand in New Zealand for a series of road projects in Tauranga. The New Zealand Government of has plans to spend some US$356.36 million (NZ$520 million) on a number of high priority road projects in Tauranga.
Up to US$571 million (NZ$812 million) is being provided by the New Zealand Government to repair an earthquake damaged stretch of State Highway 1 (SH1). The section being repaired lies between Christchurch and Picton and was heavile damaged by the earthquake that struck in November 2016. A portion of the necessary repair work has already been carried out. Some additional funding will be provided by New Zealand’s National Land Transport Fund to pay for further road repair works to other coastal connections.
