1996 National Roading Programme: Manawatu/Taranaki NRP news

The 1996 National Roading Programme Wanganui regional office newsletter covers funding for the Manawatu and Taranaki regions. Key statistics were:

• $53.3m for the Manawatu region and $18.6m for the Taranaki region.
• Largest output class for the Manawatu was local road maintenance and construction at 40.5% of spending
• Largest output class for the Taranaki region was state highway maintenance and construction at 41.1% of spending

Major committed projects included:

• SH4 Laurence's Dropout
• SH3 Maxwell to Bushy Park upgrade
• SH57 Laws Hill realignment
• FItzherbert Avenue 4-laning in Palmerston North City

New construction projects funded included:

• 7.6km seal extension on SH43 Moki Tunnel
• SH3 realignment Mimi Curves
• SH1 Vinegar Hill realignment ($5.1m)
• SH43 Tahora Flats seal extension of 2.3km
• SH1 realignment south of Waiouru railway crossing
• SH2 Bradleys realignment south of Dannevirke
• SH3 Grants Hill corner realignment
• SH4 Waihapa curves easing

In Transit - February 1996 - Set up of Transfund

The February 1996 issue of In Transit newsletter led with announcement of the Transfund New Zealand Establishment Board to set up Transfund New Zealand later in that year. Transfund would take over the land transport funding function from Transit New Zealand (leaving Transit New Zealand's sole function as the state highway manager).  This functional separation was undertaken in the second term of the Bolger Government, but would be reversed in the third term of the Clark Government in 2008.

Other stories in this newsletter include:

• Realignment of a flood prone section of SH7 west of Hammer
• Start of a project to seal 23km of Far North District roads north of the Hokianga, funded 62% by Transit New Zealand. This reflected a revision to project evaluation procedures that increased the value of sealing roads. It was noted that at the time 77% of roads (by distance) in the Far North District were unsealed.
• A five-fold increase in logging expected in Northland by 2005 following a survey of local timber companies.
• A survey of Transit's performance sent to local authorities and consultants.
• Near completion of the Pott's Hill realignment on SH57 north of Levin, at a cost of $2.1m.  This realigned a previously dangerous and winding section of highway.
• Project audits of 15 projects indicated 13 out of the 15 met or exceeded the funding cutoff of a BCR off 5. 
• Sponsored roadside toilets.
• Moves to ensure speed advisory signs (applied to approaching corners) are applied more consistently, so drivers can respond to them more appropriately.

In Transit - October 1995 - Manawatu Gorge reopening

 

New Chairman for Transit New Zealand

Re-opening of Manawatu Gorge following slips

Reopening of Manawatu Gorge, RAAM review, upgrade of Rimutaka Hill and mass and dimensions review

Paremata-Pukerua Bay upgrade and SH57 Potts Hill Bypass opens

This edition of InTransit reports on the following:

• Appointment of the second chair in Transit New Zealand's history (since established in 1989)
• Cosmetic upgrades to parts of Auckland's motorway network in advance of the CHOGM meeting
• $2m spent to repair major slips in SH3 Manawatu Gorge and improve its resilience (Manawatu Gorge road was ultimately closed permanently in 2017 due to instability)
• Review of the Roading Assessment Maintenance Management (RAMM) programme
• Over $1m to be spent on SH2 Rimutaka Hill Road to address the tightest corners, extend passing lanes and shoulders
• Paper presented on heavy vehicle weights and dimensions
• Approval given to upgrade SH1 between Paremata and Pukerua Bay, including duplication of Paremata Bridge, Clearways on Mana Esplanade, 4-laning from Mana through Plimmerton to Pukerua Bay with median barrier on the rural section (subsequently all built), at a cost of $18m
• Opening of SH57 Potts Hill Bypass between Levin and Shannon
• Noting that the National Land Transport Programme will become the National Roading Programme when Transfund is formed in 1996.

Of some note is the decision by Transit NZ to progress upgrades to SH1 from Paremata to Pukerua Bay despite considerable local opposition.  The upgrades had high benefit/cost ratios which justified them being progressed although it was accepted that Transmission Gully was the long term solution, it was not seen as being able to be funded for around 15 years (which would prove to be about correct).   Transit also pursued a bypass of Pukerua Bay which was to have been built within 10 years, but ultimately did not proceed as a strategic decision to progress with Transmission Gully had been made.

National Land Transport Programme 1996 - Whanganui regional office newsletter (Taranaki, Manawatu-Whanganui)

 

Translink August 1995

NLTP 1996 Taranaki/Manawatu-Whanganui new projects

NLTP 1996 Taranaki/Manawatu-Whanganui new projects

NLTP 1996 Taranaki/Manawatu-Whanganui summary

Translink was the newsletter for the Wanganui regional office of Transit New Zealand, covering Manawatu-Whanganui and Taranaki regions. This edition on the NLTP 1996 noted the following spending in the regions:

• $40.5m total in Manawatu/Wanganui
• $18.2m total in Taranaki
• $30.7m  to be spend on local roads maintenance and capital (the majority of spending in the region)
• $262,000 for passenger transport funding

Major new projects (over $1m) include:

• Maxwell to Bushy Park Road Stage III realignment SH3 Whanganui;
• Laws Hill Realignment SH57 south of Shannon;
• Pipiriki Rd seal extension in Ruapehu District.

Other key projects noted were:

• Seal extension SH43 of 2.2km (representing the start of sealing this State Highway, which was still not fully completed in 2023!)
• Continuing the Potts Hill realignment SH57 north of Levin
• Completing Greatford realignment SH1 north of Bulls
• Completing 4-laning of Manawatu River Bridge and Fitzherbert Avenue Palmerston North

Notable is the relatively high spending on local roads in the region. State highway spending predominantly is focused on realignments, but the 4-laning of Manawatu River Bridge and Fitzherbert Avenue was about relieving congestion in Palmerston North between Massey University and the rest of the city.