Media Statement
Hekia Parata, MP
For immediate release

15 December 2009

Gully go-ahead to bring jobs and certainty to Mana region

National MP Hekia Parata has welcomed the go ahead for Transmission Gully and the Kapiti Expressway.

“Finally local communities have certainty. This decision will reduce congestion, improve safety and support economic growth,” Mana-based MP Ms Parata says.

“I expect this project to employ significant numbers of local workers, creating new jobs for families in the Mana electorate at a difficult time for those in the construction industry.”

The plans were unveiled today by Transport Minister Steven Joyce as part of a $2.2 billion strategic roading upgrade of State Highway 1 between Wellington and Levin.

Once complete, the upgraded route from Wellington Airport to Levin is expected to deliver travel time savings of between 23 and 33 minutes during peak times and between 17 and 23 minutes during the day.

“The gully route is the best long-term option for State Highway 1 between Wellington and Levin in terms of route security, journey time savings and minimising impact both during construction and in the longer term,” Ms Parata says.

“Transmission Gully has been debated for decades but this is the first time a decision has come with the plan and the funding track to see it through. Labour had nine years in power and sat on their hands, while National has given the go-ahead after only one year in office.

“It will bring benefits to Mana, Plimmerton, Pukerua Bay and Paekakariki through reduced community severance and traffic noise, as well as improved air quality.

“Transmission Gully will also provide an improved east/west connection, with a better and more direct link to State Highway 58, the Hutt Valley and the Wairarapa.”

The Sandhills Expressway option will see the state highway expressway built along the currently designated Western Link route, with the current state highway becoming a local road through Kapiti.

“This preserves both Waikanae and Paraparaumu and ensures local railway stations continue to be easily accessible for rail commuters,” Ms Parata says.

“A much smaller number of properties (20 to 50) will be affected than would have been the case with either of the two other corridor options which were consulted on publicly.”

“Now that decisions have been made, we can look forward to work beginning as quickly as possible to improve roading on the coast,” Ms Parata says.

ENDS

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