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Project Introduction

This Road of National Significance project will create an efficient and reliable route through Richmond, while supporting economic growth and productivity.

  • Project type

    Road improvements
  • Project status

    Investigation

About the project

The route of the Hope Bypass was originally designated in 1964. The Richmond Transport Programme Business Case (2021) highlighted the Hope Bypass as a long-term transportation route should additional capacity in the network be required based on future demand between Hope and Whakatu Drive, as shown in the map below.   In response to this, the Hope Bypass designation (the southern end of the route) lapse date was extended from November 2023 until 1 November 2038.

The Resource Management Act allows for ‘requiring authorities’ (such as NZTA, a council, Minister or network utility operator) to notify the council that an area of land is to be designated for a public work (such as a road or telecommunications facility, or school). A designation protects the site/ route for future work, for that specific purpose.

This project has been prioritised for delivery as one of the Roads of National Significance. The scope of the project and what it will look like is being developed and we will share this after the investment case is approved.

We will continue to update this webpage as the project progresses and provide e-newsletter updates when we have more information to share.


  • Project timeline

    NZ Transport Agency is currently working on the Investment Case for the Hope Bypass. This phase informs the decision to invest in the project, and includes investigation and preliminary design of the route, planning out the next steps to consent and construct the project.  

    We are aiming to have the Investment Case approved by mid-2025. We then move into the design phase. When we have a completed design, we will share this with the community and provide further project timelines and milestones.

    We are working closely with Tasman District Council and Nelson City Council to determine utilities and infrastructure that they have located on or near the designation or bypass route.

    We will be engaging with impacted landowners after we have an approved Investment Case.

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  • Tolling

    As stated in the Government Policy Statement on Land Transport (GPS 2024), there is an expectation for NZTA to consider tolling to support the construction and maintenance of all new roads, including this project.

    We will share more details as we make progress with this project.

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  • Great Taste Trail

    We need to complete more of the investigation and design work before we will know how cycling and pedestrian facilities will be integrated within the project. A key consideration is how we maintain the connectivity of the Great Taste Trail.

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  • Richmond Transport Programme Business Case (2021)

    Richmond is growing at a significant rate, with development in the Richmond West and planned development in Richmond South areas occurring sooner than originally anticipated.  

    Due to this growth, in 2021, NZTA undertook the Richmond Transport Programme Business Case (PBC). The PBC was developed jointly between Tasman District Council and NZTA. 

    The PBC did highlight further investigations of a route from Hope to Whakatu Drive (including the Hope Bypass designation) in the longer-term. The Hope Bypass project has now been prioritised for delivery as one of the Roads of National Significance.

    Richmond Transport Programme Business Case

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