$460M for Northland transport for next three years, but no four laning of SH1 - yet

More cycling and walking pathways like this from Vinery Lane to Cross St, will be built in Whangārei with $8.7million allocated for the pathways over the next three years. Photo / Michael Cunningham

Northland's Regional Transport Committee chairman has welcomed the government putting up $460 million for the region's transport network over the next three years, but there's disappointment that four-laning State Highway 1 south of Whangārei is not in the plan.

But Northland Regional Transport Committee chairman John Bain is hopeful that the "vital" four-laning of SH1, first to Port Marsden Highway (SH15) then to Kaiwaka, will be funded in a later tranche of transport spending.

Transport Minister Phil Twyford yesterday announced $460 million of investment in Northland's transport network over the next three years.

Twyford said the funding was about improving safety, building stronger links to keep communities connected and supporting economic opportunities. The spending is detailed in the 2018/21 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP), published yesterday by the NZ Transport Agency, which will see a record $16.9 billion spent on the country's transport system over the three-year period.

Northland's funding includes $194.774m on local road maintenance; $68.049m on regional improvements; $76.372m for state highway maintenance; $40.13m on state highway improvements; $47.831m on local road improvements; $13.3m on walking and cycling improvements; $9.977m on public transport and $6.51m on road safety promotion.

The NLTP will also provide funding for an investigation into the opportunities to carry more freight in the region by rail, enable the completion of improvements to SH1 through Whangārei, and improving safety and traffic flows through the city centre.

"Our investment in Northland through the NLTP will help create a land transport system that gives Northlanders better access to employment and education opportunities, supports the safe and reliable movement of freight and strengthens the resilience of important corridors to support tourism and keep communities connected," Twyford said.

"Safety is a top priority for the Government. $108 million will be invested in programmes and projects in Northland that will help save lives and reduce the number of serious injuries. Funding through the NLTP will also enable an investigation to be carried out into pedestrian safety improvements in Whangārei, and a programme of cycle skills education will be delivered in schools.

"Northland's popularity as a tourist destination will be boosted by investment through the NLTP and the Provincial Growth Fund, to develop the Twin Coast Discovery Route connecting the East and West coasts.

"Walking and cycling amenities will also be developed to further boost regional tourism and promote healthier communities. Positive results are already being seen on the completed sections of the Onerahi Shared Path in Whangārei. The NLTP will support the delivery of sections of the Kamo and Raumanga routes to encourage people to use active travel options in preference to their cars."

He said there will be renewed work to support safe and efficient freight movements to and from NorthPort at Marsden Pt.

But Bain said four-laning SH1 first to the port turnoff then to Kaiwaka were vital safety measures.

''We're extremely pleased to see so much is being spent on transport in the region over the next three years. But there's disappointment that the four-laning of SH1 is not included in it,'' he said.

''We're still waiting to see if there will be another tranche of funding available for projects that will give greater safety, such as the four-laning.''

The committee sees four-laning the highway as vital for improving road safety. Over 10 years from 2006 to 2015 on SH1 between Toetoe Rd and the SH15A roundabout there have been 18 crashes, which led to 17 deaths. There have been 24 serious crashes leaving 35 people seriously injured and during the same period there have been 51 minor injury crashes, injuring 141 people. The numbers do not include crashes from 2016 to this year.