Skip to main content

Key New Zealand highway upgrade, budget set

Work on New Zealand’s State Highway 3 will see upgrades to improve capacity and s well as safety. The country’s Ministry of Transport has unveiled a government plan to spend US$94.46 million (NZ$135 million) on the project. The upgrades for State Highway 3 form part of New Zealand’s Accelerated Regional Roading Programme. Meanwhile further planning work has been required to the Mount Messenger bypass before a preferred option for the project can be confirmed. The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) is curre
April 20, 2017 Read time: 2 mins
Work on New Zealand’s State Highway 3 will see upgrades to improve capacity and s well as safety. The country’s Ministry of Transport has unveiled a government plan to spend US$94.46 million (NZ$135 million) on the project. The upgrades for State Highway 3 form part of New Zealand’s Accelerated Regional Roading Programme. Meanwhile further planning work has been required to the Mount Messenger bypass before a preferred option for the project can be confirmed. The 1009 New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) is currently developing an option for the bypass. This will be announced in August 2017.


An Alliance team to handle the Mount Messenger project has been established. This group includes the NZTA, as well as 2670 Tonkin & Taylor, Isthmus, Holmes Consulting, 1523 Opus International and 2679 Downer. The NZTA is also commencing the consent and design process for the two-bridge bypass at Awakino Tunnel, which was chosen as the preferred option. In addition, several upgrades will be made on the 58km stretch of highway that will include slope stability, road realignment and road widening.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Investing in East Africa's road sector to boost economic development
    April 14, 2020
    Investments in East Africa’s road sector are helping drive economic development as well as political stability
  • Linking Kenya and Uganda with a new road project
    May 10, 2018
    An upgraded road link will improve transport between Uganda and Kenya - Shem Oirere reports Rainfall patterns and type of soil in an agricultural rich area shared by the neighbouring East African countries of Kenya and Uganda was a key consideration in arriving at the decision to upgrade to bitumen standards 73km of the 118km Kapchorwa-Kitale road that links the two countries. Initially, Uganda had proposed to have the road between Kapchorwa and Suam on its border with Kenya re-gravelled and widened to a
  • Upgrades planned for New Zealand road links
    August 25, 2017
    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.
  • Upgrades planned for New Zealand road links
    August 25, 2017
    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.