The NZ Transport Agency has announced the outcome of the re-evaluation of the Petone to Grenada link road project.

The Petone to Grenada link road project was re-evaluated to determine whether it aligned with the priorities set out in the Government Policy Statement on Land Transport (GPS) 2018-2021.

The re-evaluation recommended that the project be redesigned with a focus on resilience, safety and improving transport choice across the state highway network. The timing of this work will depend on funding availability and other nationwide funding priorities.

In endorsing the re-evaluation recommendations, the Transport Agency Board has noted that a link road is required, but that funding will be considered at a later date. The re-evaluation recommended that construction of a long-term east-west connection be considered for funding from 2028.

Transport Agency Director of Regional Relationships Emma Speight says the overwhelming majority of trips between Porirua/northern Wellington and the Hutt Valley are by private car.

“In line with the Government’s vision for our transport network, the redesigned project will be required to provide improved transport choice for these east-west journeys,” Ms Speight says.

“The Kaikōura and Wellington earthquakes had already prompted a rethink of the proposed expressway standard Petone to Grenada link road. In 2017, we identified that the link road in its then-proposed form may not provide the resilience outcomes needed for Wellington, was more costly than first thought, and its impacts on the environment might be difficult to minimise.

“The next step will be to seek funding for the development of a business case, which will include working with the community and our local government partners on improving transport choice for east-west journeys.

“We’ve also identified some improvements we could make to the existing transport network to improve resilience in the short term. The timing of this work will also depend on funding availability and other funding priorities across the country.

“We appreciate people’s patience as we’ve worked through this important re-evaluation process to ensure our projects align with Government priorities,” Ms Speight says.

More information about the re-evaluation process can be found at www.nzta.govt.nz/project-re-evaluations

More information on the Petone to Grenada Link Road project can be found at www.nzta.govt.nz/p2g