Regional package

The package of projects throughout the regions will contribute to a safer and more resilient transport network and will support regional development.

As part of the NZ Upgrade Programme, the Government has allocated $300m for regional investment opportunities. Thirteen state highway projects are being funded through this investment. The projects will address key challenges our regional state highway networks face including safety risks, resilience and congestion problems, accessibility and travel time reliability. The projects will also support regional economic development.

Northland

SH1/11 Kawakawa roundabout and resilience project

Cost: $6m

This project will replace the existing intersection with a roundabout at the intersection of State Highways 1 and 11 in Kawakawa. The primary benefit of this change is to improve safety and traffic flow. This intersection is a key connector on the Twin Coast Discovery Route which is included as a priority route in Te Tai Tokerau Northland Economic Action Plan.

Find out more about the SH1/11 Kawakawa project

SH11/10 Intersection Puketona Junction roundabout

Cost: $14.85m

This project is to build a roundabout at the intersection of State Highways 10 and 11 at Puketona Junction. The primary benefit of this change is to increase the level of road safety and improve traffic flow. The project is expected to indirectly contribute to Northland’s economic development plan through improved infrastructure attracting more visitors to the region.

Find out more about the SH11/10 Puketona Junction project

SH12 and Rawene Road intersection improvements

Cost: $650K

This project will improve the State Highway 12 and Rawene Road intersection, through fit for purpose safety improvements and accommodation of additional right turning capacity. The intersection has a known crash history and the funding will improve its safety. The intersection is a key gateway for community and visitors accessing the Hokianga Harbour ferry. The funding will improve the reliability and resilience of the road and reduce disruption.

Find out more about the SH12 Rawene Rd project

Bay of Plenty

SH5 Tarukenga to Ngongotaha improvements, SH36 and SH5 roundabout

Cost: $14m

This project will improve safety and reduce congestion at the roundabout intersection between State Highways 5 and 36. The funding will be used to improve safety, ease congestion and enhance accessibility. The intersection is regularly congested during morning peak-hour traffic times. The programme of work also includes standard safety improvements along 8.1km of State Highway 5.

Hawke’s Bay

SH2 College Road to Silverstream Station

Cost: $13m

This project is for vertical and horizontal curve realignment and the addition of a passing lane along a 1.7 km section of SH2 north of Waipukurau in Central Hawke’s Bay. It will improve the efficiency and safety of this key freight route between Hawke’s Bay, the Manawatū and Tairāwhiti and will improve the connection to Napier Port. This project will support regional economic growth by reducing travel times, improving access and efficiencies for moving people and goods along this key route.

Find out more about the SH2 College Road to Silverstream project

SH2 Tahaenui Bridge

Cost: $2.2m

This project will upgrade the Tahaenui Bridge on SH2 between Wairoa and Gisborne to allow two-lane travel. The funding will enable the bridge to be widened to two-way travel and will improve the roading network access and efficiency for those travelling between Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay.

This bridge is currently the only one-lane restriction on the important link between Gisborne and Napier Port.

Taranaki

SH43 Forgotten World Highway improvements

Cost: $13.4m

This project will improve SH43, the Forgotten World Highway. The upgrades include safety improvements, passing opportunities, a single-lane bridge upgrade and culvert replacements.

The improvements will provide resilience for the Central North Island’s transport network, as an important alternative to SH 3 between Taranaki and the Upper North Island.

The Forgotten World Highway is promoted as a tourist destination.

PGF funded sealing of the unsealed section of the Tangarakau Gorge is expected to drive GDP gains into Taranaki of up to $45 million over 40 years.

The projects are forecast to increase visitor numbers to Taranaki by around 13,000 annually.

West Coast

SH67 Granity

Cost: $2.5m

This project will provide protection to a section of SH67 between Granity and Ngakawau.

This highway suffers frequent coastal erosion and is an important link to the northern West Coast of the South Island. This project will improve the security and resilience of the highway for the local community, and for freight supplies and rural services in the region. The funding is for work on the bridge abutments to protect the highway.

SH6 Tatare Bridge Franz Josef safety improvements

Cost: $1.5m

This project will improve safety and access to the 130 metre long single lane bridge to Franz Josef.

The funding will provide hand-rails and provision for separate pedestrian and cycle use.

The upgrade will include the installation of guard-rail edge protection over the bridge and a clip-on pedestrian and cycle walkway.

The clip-on will reuse an existing clip-on structure removed from the Taramakau combined bridge that was removed when the new separated road bridge was opened in 2018.

The project will improve user-experience for locals and tourists by addressing safety risks and improving traffic flows.

West Coast state highway single-lane bridges safety retrofit

Cost: $5m

This project will see compliant guardrail installed on up to five single lane bridges throughout the West Coast network.

The proposed bridges are:

• SH73 Taipo River (timber railing)
• SH6 Mikonui River (timber railing)
• SH6 Wanganui River (timber rail only, approach guardrail only)
• SH6 Moeraki River (pipe rail)
• SH6 Gates of Haast (pipe rail).

Canterbury

SH8, SH79, SH80 Mackenzie Basin, pull-over areas

Cost: $5m

This project will provide safe stopping areas to maximise the tourism potential of the Mackenzie Basin.

The funding will provide:

• a number of safety and access improvements
• increased capacity at existing rest areas
• new rest areas at scenic locations
• upgrade existing rest areas
• better signage
• directional arrows
• edge protection
• tourism information
• intersection improvements
• road widening and passing locations.

An increasing number of self-driving tourists has meant we need to provide safer places to pull over to rest and enjoy the views.

Otago

SH1 north of Kakanui River/South of Oamaru improving flood mitigation

Cost: $2m

This project is to improve flood mitigation at the Kakanui River flood plain in Otago.

The project will raise a 200-metre section of the state highway and involves the installation of a series of culverts.

The works are located on SH1 in Otago, north of Kakanui River and south of Oamaru.

This will avoid the flood closures that occur every two to three years.

There is no effective or reliable detour route during flood events and road closures can last up to two days.

The project is expected to indirectly contribute to regional economic development because the improvements will reduce the frequency of road closures due to flooding.

SH6–SH8B Junction Cromwell intersection upgrade

Cost: $8m

This project is to build a roundabout at the intersection of SH6 and SH8B in Cromwell.

The intersection has a high level of safety issues with serious injury crashes, with the safety record worsening over the last two years.  SH6 is the main road from Cromwell to Wanaka and Queenstown. The increased popularity of the region and increased tourism numbers, as well as higher local growth, is causing increased pressure at this intersection.

The project is expected to contribute to the regional economic development plan as improvements will address the safety risks and improve traffic flows.