Hutt Porirua Road Link To Be Investigated

After torrid debate, the Regional Land Transport Committee decided the Hutt-Porirua Link Road should be investigated and that discussions should be held with the Hutt City Council about the benefits of Transmission Gully Motorway to Hutt City.

The committee is responsible for regional land transport planning, including goal setting and the recommending of timetables for projects. Its members include all the local councils, Transit New Zealand, Transfund and representatives of user groups.

The Hutt City Council had instructed its councillors on the regional committee to vote against the proposed Porirua Hutt Link Road because Hutt residents affected by the link road opposed it.

Porirua City representative on the committee Councillor Robert Shaw said it was important that the benefits of the Transmission Gully Motorway were maximized and the direct link to the Hutt Central Business District had to be assessed in this context.

Cr Shaw said he was disappointed the Hutt City Council had yet to see the advantages of direct access to the north.

"Of course Porirua has a vested interest in this, but the benefits to businesses and residents in the Hutt Valley should also be considered. It is not sensible to develop the waterfront link from Seaview around to Ngaranga when there is a far better route available" he said.

The proposal is that the Kennedy Good Bridge be linked directly to Transmision Gully through the Belmont Regional Park. For Hutt City residents this would cut travel time to the north and it would also enable commercial interaction between the Hutt Valley and Porirua City. The road would impact on about 20 properties that are adjacent to the Belmont Regional Park on the Hutt side.

At the moment one-third of daily commuters in the Wellignton Regional travel East-West and to do this they have to either go over the Haywards or into Wellington. Heavy vehicles from the industrial areas of the Hutt Valley seek better access to north.

"A small but vocal vested interest group in the Hutt have captured the minds of a majority of councillors and this does not assist us with strategic thinking. Fortunately, the Regional Land Transport Committee could see things in perspective" Councillor Shaw said.

Transit New Zealand said they had "little difficulty" with the Belmont link to Porirua proposal.

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