Media Release
Transit New Zealand
Wellington Regional Office
Media Release
11 July 2008
Details of preferred Transmission Gully route released
Investigations into a route through Transmission Gully have been completed with a preferred route identified that will now be presented publicly for feedback.
Before the route can be finalised, the public are being asked for their views so they can be considered for inclusion in the design.
Transmission Gully principal project manager Rob Whight said preliminary investigations have shown that some deviation from the previously designed route would provide better outcomes for the environment and road durability.
"The previous route was designed without the benefit of the on-site investigations and the detailed study that were recently completed," he said.
Consensus was reached on the preferred route by Transit New Zealand and Wellington's regional and territorial councils after jointly working together in close co-operation during the preliminary investigations.
Mr Whight said public engagement on the preferred route will see all households in the Greater Wellington region receiving a brochure with a feedback form, briefings for groups with a special interest in Transmission Gully and public information days.
There has been discussion for many years on building an alternative highway to the coastal route (State Highway 1) which is narrow in places and becomes congested during peak hours. An alignment for the Gully route was designed in 1996 and land was designated in local plans in 2004. It was included in Greater Wellington Regional Council's Western Corridor Plan in 2006.
"In-depth investigations started in 2006 and provided the first real opportunity to conduct on-site investigations into the impact of the designated alignment on geological and environmental conditions," Mr Whight said.
"Drilling and seismic survey testing, a road safety audit, traffic modelling, cost, risk and value engineering assessments have been undertaken in order to arrive at an option that provides the most appropriate environmental, transport and engineering solution and is value-for-money.
'Advantages of the preferred route include greater resilience to earthquakes and less impact on waterways. It minimises the impact of geological hazards like fault lines, landslides and soft terrain. The preferred route is also cheaper to construct in real terms than the designated alignment.'
The preferred Transmission Gully route is currently estimated to cost $1.025 billion and should result in a saving of about $275 million on the cost of the originally designated alignment. That is because the previous estimate of $985 million inflation adjusted today would be $1.3 billion, based on Land Transport New Zealand's escalation figures.
The Government remains committed to the release of $405 million earmarked for the Western Corridor highway once the region reconfirms its preferred option. The Minister of Transport Annette King has said she hopes that by late 2009 the region will be able to confirm how it will fund projects like Transmission Gully, and come to the Government with its funding plan for this project and other strategic priorities.
Before the route can be finalised, the public are being asked for their views so they can be considered for inclusion in the design.
Visit the Transmission Gully website.
Media contact:
Frank Fernandez
Transmission Gully Communications & Stakeholder Liaison Manager
Tel: 04 801 4964
Mob: 021 221 5391
Email:frank.fernandez@transit.govt.nz