Transmission Gully contract right move
The Government’s announcement that a contract has been signed and work will begin in a few months on the Transmission
Gully motorway north of Wellington is welcome news to the road freight industry, says the Road Transport Forum Chief
Executive Officer Ken Shirley.
“Using a Private Public Partnership is a sound way to augment the National Land Transport Programme funding and ensures
this critical piece of infrastructure is built in a timely manner. As a major link into and out of the capital and to
the South Island the new route is essential for the freight task, will gnificantly improve travel times and consistency
of service and will provide much needed resilience.”
Mr Shirley says that the heavy vehicles used by commercial freight operators are more than capable of handling the one
stretch of steep gradient on the Transmission Gully route. “Some people have been spreading the misconception that heavy
vehicles won’t be able to climb parts of the new road. The reality is that the entire route will be no steeper than
Ngauranga Gorge out of Wellington which trucks of all descriptions routinely use every day.”
ends