The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has today welcomed the Board of Inquiry's final decision to approve the regulatory and resource consents applications lodged by the NZTA for the Mackays to Peka Peka expressway project.
The Board of Inquiry’s Final Report and Decision can be accessed online at www.epa.govt.nz/Resource-management/m2pp/Pages/default.aspx(external link)
NZTA Wellington State Highway Manager Rod James said the Board’s final decision has provided certainty for the project and will now allow the NZTA to progress it to construction.
“The approval of the application is an important milestone for the Kapiti Coast district and the Wellington region as the expressway aims to improve traffic congestion, travel time reliability and safety on the route.
“The NZTA is now looking forward to working with stakeholder groups and local communities during the construction of the expressway which is scheduled to begin in July this year.
“Construction is expected to take four years and the expressway is anticipated to be open and running by late 2017,” he said.
"What this means for people is safer journeys, shorter travel times, and a more resilient, reliable transport link north of the Capital as part of the Wellington Northern Coridor.
“The Expressway will help to enable better connections between Kapiti’s local road network while also providing a stronger link to Wellington for Kapiti’s communities and businesses.”
“As well as providing for greater economic productivity, we estimate that construction of the project will create around 1000 jobs.”
The Mackays to Peka Peka Expressway is an integral section of the State Highway 1 Wellington Northern Corridor which runs from Wellington Airport to Levin.
The Wellington Northern Corridor is one of seven ‘roads of national significance’ that the Government has identified as essential state highways which require upgrading to reduce congestion, improve safety and support economic growth in New Zealand.
