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The objective of this research (undertaken in 2010–12) was to provide improved evidence (potentially leading to improved modelling, monitoring and evaluation methods) on the implications of major road investments in New Zealand on significant factors including travel demand, operational performance, environmental effects, emissions, road safety, development patterns and economic effects.

The research methodology involved:

• assessing New Zealand (principally) and international evidence on the actual impacts and implications for all significant factors of major road investment projects
• assessing the procedures used in New Zealand for the post-evaluation of major road projects, and drawing conclusions on the strengths, weaknesses and priorities for improvement in current New Zealand post-evaluation procedures and practices
• comparing the post-evaluation evidence, from selected New Zealand case studies, with the pre-appraisal forecasts of scheme impacts, and drawing conclusions on the strengths, weaknesses and priorities for improvement in current New Zealand forecasting and (economic) pre-appraisal methods.

Conclusions and recommendations were developed covering five main topic areas: travel behaviour; economic appraisal; social, environmental, health and safety effects; post-implementation review procedures; and lessons from New Zealand post-evaluation case studies.

Keywords: appraisal, case studies, cost changes, economic appraisal, effects, environmental, evaluation, ex ante, ex post, forecasting, health, highways, impacts, induced travel, monitoring, New Zealand, post construction audit, post implementation review, roads, safety, social, transport, travel behaviour