Upgrade To Glenhope/Kawatiri, State Highway 6

Transfund Approves $6.25 Million Upgrade To Glenhope/Kawatiri Section Of State Highway 6

Transfund Zealand has approved a $6.25 million roading project to upgrade nearly 11km of winding road between Glenhope and Kawatiri on State Highway 6, 80km south of Nelson.

The project, to be completed within 3 years, will widen the highway and its bridges to allow two-way traffic and passing lanes in both directions at the northern end of the works, near Glenhope. It will be the most significant reconstruction project in the Nelson, Marlborough and Tasman regions this year.

Martin Gummer, Chief Executive of Transfund said, “Transfund, as the national road funding authority, is committed to ensuring value for money from the projects we fund for road users and our assessments have show that this project is a worthwhile investment. Crashes involving injuries on this section of highway are expected to reduce by 70%, from an average of three per year to about one per year, once this project is completed.

“The Glenhope to Kawatiri project has a benefit:cost ratio (BCR) of 4.2. A BCR ranks projects for funding on a national basis before Transfund approves them. This BCR shows that the Glenhope/Kawatiri reconstruction will provide substantial benefits from the investment for road users,” said Mr Gummer.

Funding for the Glenhope/Kawatiri reconstruction has come from a national budget pool of up to $100 million, for ‘projects in the pipeline’, which may be approved during the year.

Transfund has now allocated $35.3 million to the Nelson, Marlborough and Tasman regions for the 2000/2001 year. Significant roading projects funded this year include replacement of the Peasoup Creek Bridge on SH65 in the Tasman District to reduce the crash rate (estimated cost: $1,700,000); and extension of the seal on Tasman District roads by 10km to reduce road and vehicle maintenance costs ($770,000).

A number of major projects that started last year will continue including the realignment of SH6 over the summit of the Spooners Range to improve road safety (estimated cost: $5,000,000); and the extension of Sinclair Street on SH1, in Blenheim, to reduce traffic congestion and improve side road access between Alfred Street and Main Road ($4,300,000).

“Transfund has recently developed a new Risk Benefit Analysis process for evaluating roading projects by comparing them with similar projects already completed. This analysis has shown that the Glenhope/Kawatiri project will result in much safer driving conditions for drivers on this section of State Highway 6,” Mr Gummer said.

Ends

For further information, please contact:
Murray Riley Phone: 04 495 3263
National Roading Programme Manager
Transfund New Zealand

Notes:
i. The NRP is the national budget for the construction and maintenance of New Zealand’s road network and the provision of publicly funded passenger transport services. Transfund, a Crown entity, is responsible for investing road user funds to achieve a safe and efficient roading system throughout New Zealand. It provides for Transfund’s and Transit’s administrative costs and contributes to local authorities’ administration costs related to roading and public transport. It also funds research and industry training.

ii. All project costs are total costs (excluding GST) but include Transfund’s allocation and, where applicable, funding by the relevant local authority.

iii. Further detail on the NRP is available on the Transfund website : www.transfund.govt.nz

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