From RNZ · RNZ | Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa · · 1m 20s
National Promises $800m Christchurch Motorway Extension
National pledges to fund $800m Christchurch Northern Motorway extension in next budget.
In brief
National pledges to fund $800m Christchurch Northern Motorway extension in next budget. National plans to fully fund a $800 million Christchurch Northern Motorway extension in next year's budget to address traffic and safety issues in Woodend. Originally reported by RNZ.
National pledges $800m motorway extension
National promises to fully fund an extension to the Christchurch Northern Motorway at $800 million cost in next year's budget if it leads the next government.
Bishop calls it critical transport project
Chris Bishop said the Belfast to Pegasus Motorway and Woodend Bypass would extend Christchurch Northern Motorway around 11 kilometres north from just south of Waimakariri River to beyond Pegasus and Ravenswood.
Woodend traffic pressures grow
SH1 carries 21,500 vehicles daily with nine percent freight, expected to rise to 28,000 by 2048, causing 20-minute travel delays in peak times.
Safety concerns in Woodend
Between 2014 and 2023, SH1 through Woodend had 280 crashes including three fatalities and 25 serious injuries.
Project benefits motorists and freight
The new motorway will save up to 10 minutes at peak times, reduce traffic through Woodend from 21,500 to 8000 vehicles daily, and cut deaths and serious injuries by 78 percent.
National ready for next investment
The project is ready to go due to National's work in government and is the next investment-ready project on the Major Transport Projects Pipeline.
Here's the gist
National plans to fully fund a $800 million Christchurch Northern Motorway extension in next year's budget to address traffic and safety issues in Woodend.
