Road wish-list hinges on petrol tax revenue

The public is being urged to comment on a 10-year wish-list for roading projects issued for discussion yesterday by national roading agency Transit.

The list of projects and suggested starting dates includes safety improvements to the notorious stretch of State Highway 2 at Mangatawhiri.

Transit Waikato manager Chris Allen said the regional list was drawn up on the understanding that Transit would draw a 65 per cent share of the additional petrol tax to be collected by the Government starting in April.

The public could influence the timing of a project by making submissions to Transit and to regional Land Transport Committees, which recommended priorities, he said.

Submissions closed on March 16 and the draft plan was available on the web (see link below).

The final plan would be announced in late June, at the same time as Land Transport New Zealand funding allocations for 2005-06.

Of new work listed in the draft 10-year plan, Mr Allen said the State Highway 2 Mangatawhiri Deviation safety project would start in 2005-06.

But a start on the Maramarua bypass was probably 10 years away.

Twelve people have died on the Mangatawhiri part of the highway in five years, with the Maramarua section claiming eight lives.

Mr Allen said other safety work on the rest of the highway in this area would also be carried out in 2005-06.

The realignment of the Mangatawhiri section would give more passing opportunities and divert through-traffic from the township.

The new route would run south of the existing highway between the Mangatawhiri Bridge and the Maramarua golf course.

Mr Allen said resource consent for the Kopu Bridge on SH25 near Thames had been obtained but design work would take up to two years.

Most of the major projects had some funds for work to carry on, he said, but costs had risen after initial development work.

The projects could not proceed as quickly as previously thought unless the community felt they were priority for petrol tax money.

Transit Auckland manager Richard Hancy said addressing severe congestion was the key issue, with traffic growing at 2 to 4 per cent a year.

Progress was being made on an option for a tunnel in the Victoria Park area.

Upgrading and widening of the Newmarket Viaduct would start in 2007-08.

The Northern Motorway extension from Orewa to Puhoi had begun, with $20 million allocated for the $210 million job.

Gaining approval for the extension to be a toll road was crucial, said Mr Hancy. It was hoped to have the necessary order-in-council next month or April.

New projects and proposed starting dates:

Auckland

* Northcote to Sunnynook auxiliary lane, $7.4 million, start June 2007.
* Brigham Creek extension (Upper Harbour Corridor), $25 million, start 2007-08.
* Redvale interchange, $11.5 million, start 2007-08.
* Kirkbride Rd improvements (Southwestern Corridor), $21.3 million, start September 2010.
* Waterview-Rosebank widening, $39 million, start 2012-13.

Waikato-Central North Island

* SH2 Mangatawhiri Deviation, $45 million, start 2005-06.
* Eastern Taupo Arterial, $14.6 million, start 2011.
* Kopu Bridge replacement, $31 million, start 2012.
* Maramarua Deviation, $35.6 million, start 2014.

Northland

* Sealing 22km of SH1 from Waitiki Landing to Cape Reinga, $5.7 million, continues August 2007.
* Realignment of Matakohe on SH12, $4.1 million, start October 2011.
* Realignment of SH1 through Snake Hill, north of Whangarei, $4.7 million, start November 2012.
* Brynderwyn Hill realignment, $13.6 million, start 2016.

Bay of Plenty

* Tauranga Harbour Link project, $37.5 million (total cost $210 million), start June 2007.
* Tauranga Central Corridor travel demand management project, $3 million, start June 2007.
* Pyes Pa bypass, $9 million, start July 2008.