Submissions closed on 28 February and 84 submissions were received. A hearing before two independent commissioners is expected in the middle of the year.
On January 29 the receiving councils – Hamilton City, Waipa and Waikato districts for the roading network designations, and the Waikato Regional Council for the bridge consents – publicly notified the applications for the Southern Links network. Submissions closed on 28 February and a hearing before independent commissioners is expected in the middle of the year.
The long-term aim of the Southern Links project is to develop an effective transport network of well-connected state highway and urban arterial routes linking State Highway 1 from Kahikatea Drive in Hamilton to the Waikato Expressway at Tamahere and State Highway 3 from Hamilton Airport to central and east Hamilton.
NZ Transport Agency State Highway Manager, Kaye Clark, says the benefits of this initiative would see better linkage and access across and in and out of Hamilton City and surrounding districts for all motorists, which supports the region’s growth strategy by enabling more efficient movement of people and freight.
“Those benefits would include enabling economic growth, reducing travel times, improving road safety, reducing congestion and creating further opportunities for Waikato communities.”
However, Mrs Clark says it’s important to remember that the focus at this stage is on protecting the preferred network route by way of designation. “Any progression towards the construction stage is still outside the Transport Agency’s and the Hamilton City Council’s 10-year funding plans.”
Information about this project is available online at www.nzta.govt.nz/southern-links(external link). Details on contacts for information are also on the website or people can email southern.links@aecom.com or phone 0508 STHNLINK (0508 7846 5465).
All documents relating to the notification are at: www.waipadc.govt.nz/HamiltonSouthernLinks(external link).
Read the media release here(external link).
Submissions received for the Southern Links project designations will be the subject of a hearing later this year.
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