Good news on local roading
Last week brought more good news on the much needed upgrades of our roads.
NZTA is calling for tenders for preliminary work on the 21 kilometre SH1 upgrade between Otaki and Levin, the first step in a major piece of work.
Accident black spots on this route are a big concern and we all know how bad traffic congestion can get on weekends and public holidays around Otaki.
Any route proposed will need to include decent access to Otaki and Levin centres so that shoppers and locals can easily get on and off the expressway.
Ultimately Levin will be just a one hour drive from Wellington which will attract businesses and people to relocate, creating more local jobs. It also means we need to keep building visitor numbers to the Horowhenua as a destination in its own right. Already we have the Te Awahou project developing in Foxton and good shopping in Otaki and Levin.
Transmission Gully is also on track – the government has set up an independent Board of Inquiry to speed up the consent process, meaning less red tape and delays.
Motorists from around the entire region will be relieved to see action on Transmission Gully after years of talk. Once completed it will link with Kapiti’s four-lane expressway and north to Levin, and mean safer, quicker journeys with a real boost to the regional economy.
NZTA are also carrying out detailed work on the Kapiti expressway. Public consultation will be held in November with a series of open days across the district to discuss interchanges and the overall design. Keep an eye on your letterbox and local papers for details.
It’s very important that local residents have their say on these roading issues. It’s an exciting time for our region with this $2.2 billion investment from the government in the Levin to Wellington Airport Road of National Significance.
This is a once in a lifetime project and I’m determined as local MP that we maximise the benefits for our region.