Transmission Gully blue sky gazing
Improvements to State Highway One are expected to bring greater benefits than simply easing congestion for peak-hour traffic and holiday makers. Supposedly, the Road of National Significance will help grow the local economy by improving productivity in the city and surrounding regions. Wellington City Mayor Kerry Prendergast says making key routes more efficient and safer will improve the reliability of journey times, reduce severe congestion and improve key freight and tourism routes. ?I?m delighted the government has decided to start at the airport and Otaki ends, they are addressing the most congested areas first. ?We should have a reliable four lane highway from the top of the North Island to the bottom of the South. Productivity will increase for Wellington, especially with the airport more accessible and new 747 planes arriving soon,? says Mrs Prendergast. The route improves access to key regional destinations including the hospital, airport and Wellington CBD, and inter-island ferry terminals. Mrs Prendergast says the developments are ?very exciting for the future of the city?. Wellington is the country?s third largest economic centre based around film and IT, government and tourism spending. Mrs Prendergast sees the government spending $1.5 billion on broadband, and train and road upgrades, as one in the same. ?This is important infrastructure to create an internationally competitive city,? she says. Ohariu MP Peter Dunne says the region has ?suffered? because of poor transport links. The $2.4 billion project will initially create 650 new jobs, over and above the expected increase in employment through economic growth. ?Wellington port will benefit from more reliable distribution, in both exports and imports. ?It will open up areas for development north of Wellington, in the Porirua basin, and north at Kapiti. Now we have certainty, the regional councils need to work actively, with the chamber of commerce, to turn this into an economic reality. ?We won?t waste energy on the ?what ifs? anymore, that?s off the agenda, now we can set down some solid ideas,? says Mr Dunne. Hutt City Mayor David Ogden says the decision to build the Granada to Petone link over upgrading SH58 is ?an error of judgement?. ?We are not directly benefiting from the upgrades as many others are, of more benefit would be making SH58 a safe road. ?I?m disappointed with the NZTA about the planned work ? they say there are not enough accidents on SH58 to start work there,? says Mr Ogden. SH1 from Levin to Wellington and SH58 have a poor safety record, with one of the highest number of fatal/serious crashes per kilometre in the country. ?If they think SH58 is not dangerous then they should build all their highways like that,? he says. The economic success of upgrading the Levin-Wellington corridor will be partially measured in the unemployment rates in coming years, he says. ?Having unemployed people in a city affects quality of life, the road will create immediate jobs and boost industry here, the Hutt has the largest land bank and is the underbelly of manufacturing.? Porirua City Council chief executive Dr Roger Blakeley says there have been questions raised as to whether Transmission Gully could adversely affect Porirua's economic activity through traffic bypassing the City. However, Mr Blakeley says studies have shown there is a net economic benefit to the city. ?It has been projected the Centennial Highway north of Pukerua Bay will be back at gridlock within the next 10 years. ?Economic growth of the?Wellington region would have been stymied ? the decision to build Transmission Gully ensures the necessary infrastructure is in place to support continuing growth of the whole region,? says Mr Blakeley.? The?Porirua City Centre revitalisation?is expected to be?well advanced within the same time frame as the upgrades, providing an additional magnet for visitors to the City.?The Wellington region produces 13 percent of NZ's GDP. Mr Blakeley says it?s essential the region makes its post-recession contribution to the NZ economy. ?Our economic studies have shown that improved infrastructure will attract residents to live in our city and encourage investment in Porirua. ?We have everything from pastoral farming in the Wairarapa through to a thriving IT sector and other ?new economy? industries in Porirua, Wellington and the Hutt Valley. ?We have challenges including skills shortages, social cohesion, infrastructure investment and environmental quality,? he says. What are your views? What will Transmission Gully mean for your neighbourhood? Are you expecting the region to benefit from the upgrades, and how? Email The Northern Courier or phone 237 3208. ? SIDE BAR What projects are included in the Wellington Northern Corridor RoNS? The Wellington Northern Corridor is made up of eight project elements: 1. Airport to Mt Victoria Tunnel (Ruahine Street Improvements and Mt Victoria Tunnel duplication) 2. Basin Reserve (Basin Reserve capacity improvements and accommodating the Buckle Street memorial park) 3. Terrace Tunnel (tunnel duplication) 4. Aotea Quay to Ngauranga (capacity improvements during peak times on the hard shoulder) 5. Linden to MacKays Crossing (Transmission Gully) 6. Mackays Crossing to Peka Peka (expressway) 7. Peka Peka to Otaki 8. Otaki to North of Levin
