The New Zealand Transport Agency is planning to replace one of Hawke's Bay's busiest state highway bridges.
The replacement of Waitangi Bridge on State Highway 2 near Awatoto is flagged in announcements made by the New Zealand Transport Agency today, saying an investigation is included in a $214 million investment in
land transport in Hawke's Bay over the next three years.
But central region director Jenny Chetwynd said this morning work on replacing the bridge is intended to start in the "third year" - 2011-12.
Further details relating to the bridge project were not immediately available.
The NZTA announcements also include plans to complete sealing of the Napier-Taihape road, and confirmation that work on two of the region's largest projects in recent years, the Expressway southern extension and the Matahorua Gorge realignment between Napier and Wairoa will start in October.
Also included is a start on the four-laning of Napier's Prebensen Dr, but the SH2 Hyderabad Overbridge project, which forms what Ms Chetwynd says is the other half of the Napier City Council's improvements to safety and efficiency in the heart of Napier, "has not been identified as a funding priority at this stage."
Ms Chetwynd said today's announcement of the 2009-12 National Land Transport Programme was the first time it guaranteed a dedicated funding package for the Bay, which in previous programmes had been incorporated with the Gisborne region.
"Hawke's Bay is a fast-growing region facing the demands that come with increased commuter traffic, tourism, and a thriving port and freight industry," she said.
