What is Waka Kotahi proposing for SH59 and SH58 once Transmission Gully is open?
Waka Kotahi is proposing that SH59, as a key strategic route for the region, should be retained as a state highway, and that SH58, between Paremata and Pāuatahanui, should have its state highway status revoked.
SH59 is a highly challenging piece of road due to its proximity to the rail corridor, long stretches of seawall, and steep terrain that will remain an important route for the region.
Maintaining this road as a state highway will ensure a third alternate route in and out of Wellington, not introduce additional costs to ratepayers, and allow the continuation of the current maintenance arrangements.
As a smaller, less strategic route, this section of SH58 would not impact on the performance of Transmission Gully should it be closed. Approximately 90% of vehicles using SH58 after the opening of Transmission Gully will be making local journeys, meaning that it is more suitable as a local road.
What is revocation?
Revocation is the process of removing a road’s state highway status and transferring the management of that road from Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency to a local authority. Should SH58 between Paremata and Pāuatahanui be revoked, ownership and responsibility would be transferred to Porirua City Council.
As part of the revocation process, Waka Kotahi ensures that a road is fit-for-purpose.
Fit-for-purpose means that at the time of handover, the revoked section of state highway will provide a level of service equivalent to other roads providing a similar function within the local road network and be safe i.e. it will not, as a result of that change in function, have a safety defect that was not there before.
How busy will these roads be when Transmission Gully is open?
SH59 currently has approximately 60,000 vehicles per day at its busiest point. After Transmission Gully opens, SH59 will continue have high volumes of traffic in places, with up to 42,000 vehicles per day at its busiest point (Whitford Brown Avenue). This includes people making local journeys.
The number of vehicles currently using SH58 each day is approximately 20,600. It is expected SH58 will have approximately 11,500 vpd at its busiest point (Postgate-Paremata) when Transmission Gully opens. Around 90% of journeys on SH58 following the opening of Transmission Gully are expected to be local journeys.
How will Waka Kotahi be working with councils?
Waka Kotahi has informed Kāpiti Coast District Council and Porirua City Council of its proposed position and is now working on developing individual agreements with both Councils on how the respective parties will work together on this project. Included within discussions will be agreement on consultation with communities and stakeholders.
To help guide this work, a Network Operating Framework (NOF) is being jointly developed by Waka Kotahi and Councils. This is a method to confirm how the transport network will be used in future, by whom, and identifying any gaps in the existing network that may need to be addressed. The NOF will cover all of the affected transport network, including both state highways and local roads.
Waka Kotahi will also work closely with Porirua City Council to agree on how we transfer road data and other information on SH58, should SH58 be revoked. If SH58 is to be revoked we will also ensure that we meet our statutory revocation duties under section 103 of the Land Transport Management Act, and Part 11 of NZTA’s State Highway Control Manual by consulting with Council throughout this process.
How will you be deciding whether any changes are required on SH59 or SH58?
Before we consider what changes may or may not be made on SH59 and SH58, we need to know how the roads will be used in the future. These will be investigated with PCC and GWRC through a Network Operating Framework (NOF) and business cases, which will help us identify and agree on the future form and function of this road. You can find out more about the NOF process below. This is a method to confirm how the transport network will be used in future, by whom, and identifying any gaps in the existing network that may need to be addressed. Once we have determined how each road will be used, we will then consider what changes may be appropriate and will be consulting with iwi, councils and residents’ groups as part of this process.
The NOF process(external link)
How will Waka Kotahi consider mana whenua perspectives?
Waka Kotahi is committed to partnership under Te Tiriti o Waitangi – The Treaty of Waitangi. We believe that partnership creates mutual benefit and understanding mana whenua aspirations and concerns will help us to deliver a better project overall. We will work with mana whenua to understand cultural needs and concerns along SH59 and SH58, and to include these within the process.
What other consultation will you be doing?
Waka Kotahi is required to consult with Porirua City Council, Greater Wellington Regional Council, Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Plimmerton Residents Association, and Paremata Residents Association following the construction of the Transmission Gully Motorway Project on issues including ownership and control of the Paremata Road, Mana Esplanade and St Andrews Road; options relating to the future of the existing Paremata Bridge; the continuation of four-laning of St Andrews Road between Acheron Road and James Street; measures to restrict or discourage heavy vehicle movements; and changes to the clearways.
We will also be asking the community to provide feedback about safety and speed limits on SH59 and SH58.
