Christopher Luxon and Chris Bishop speak to the media.
The Government is prioritising upgrades to a busy Christchurch road as part of its Roads of Regional Significance programme.
The Roads of Regional Significance (Rors) programme is a package of currently 10 transport projects the Government believes, when completed, will “support economic growth and productivity, reduce congestion, improvesafety, support housing development, and provide a more resilient roading network”.
Transport Minister Chris Bishop announced on Wednesday the Government agreed to provide funding from the Crown to the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to deliver upgrades to SH76 Brougham St in Christchurch as part of the Rors programme. That makes the road the 11th Rors project.
Construction is expected to start in mid-2025, subject to approvals. It includes an overbridge between Collins and Simeon Sts, which is expected to be completed within two years. Other improvements will start once property and consenting requirements are completed.
“Carrying over 45,000 vehicles per day, SH76 Brougham St is a critical route servicing the commercial, industrial, and residential areas south of Christchurch. It is also the main freight route to the South Island’s largest port at Lyttleton,” Bishop said.
“In May last year, the Government confirmed funding for the pre-implementation phase only for this project. This funding ensured a no-frills and value-for-money approach to design could be completed by the NZ Transport Agency, and strategic property purchases and consenting work could continue in parallel.”
Transport Minister Chris Bishop made the announcement on Wednesday. New Zealand Herald photograph by Mark Mitchell
Overall funding will be confirmed once a contractor has been appointed, but Bishop said it’s expected to cost between $100 million and $150m.
The funding will be taken from tagged contingency set aside in last year’s Budget to allow NZTA to bring forward priority projects that otherwise were phased to start from 2027.
The minister said intersection upgrades and other improvements on the corridor would “improve efficiency and safety as well as making travel times more reliable”.
“Once completed, the overbridge will enable residents and school children to safely cross over the highway, rather than using the existing level crossing, as well as improving travel time reliability for freight going to and from the port.”
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said the upgrades would help drive the country’s economic growth.
“It is more than just a fresh layer of tar seal, it is about growing our economy,” he said.
“It needs to be faster, it needs to be easier for people to get to where they need to get to, and importantly, on this road, also for freight to be able to move around the country and to be able to get to the ports as well.”
Dr Megan Woods, Labour’s local Wigram MP, said the announcement was a “huge win for the Addington community”.
There had been a significant community effort to get the upgrade under way, including a petition launched by Labour.
“They have made it clear to government that the decision they made to cut a project that was fully funded and under way under our government, to come in and cut that, was a ridiculous decision,” Woods said.
The Brougham upgrade was part of Labour’s New Zealand Upgrade infrastructure programme, which was replaced by the Rors programme last year.
Woods said work had been under way on the project, then said to cost about $90 million, before the new government came in and “hit the pause button”, which she said was an “ill thought out decision”.
She said “delays cost money” and “I think we are going to see the taxpayer have to reach a bit deeper into their pockets” as a result.
The Government’s previously been criticised for supposedly not placing as much attention on the South Island as it has with northern regions. In his January reshuffle, the Prime Minister created a Minister for the South Island.
Luxon said there was “tremendous” investment in the South Island, pointing to a number of projects such as upgrades to the Ashburton bridge and a package in Queenstown.
“Be under no illusions, we are deeply committed to the South Island. When you have a Prime Minister from Christchurch, it is a big priority,” Luxon said.
But Woods said it was “blindingly obvious” the Government had been ignoring the South Island when it came to transport funding.
“South Islanders are never going to stand for that. They are going to make it clear they need what is fair and right.”
Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger said it was a “truly a fantastic day” for the city.
“This is going to be a game changer for Brougham St and make things flow a lot better,” he said.
The Rors package also includes the O Mahurangi-Penlink road, SH1 Papakura to Drury, and SH2 Melling transport improvements in wider Wellington.
Jamie Ensor is a political reporter in the NZ Herald Press Gallery team based at Parliament. He was previously a TV reporter and digital producer in the Newshub Press Gallery office.
