3. SIMON BRIDGES (National—Tauranga) Link to this
to the Minister of Transport
What progress has been made on the Tauranga Eastern Link road of national significance?
Hon STEVEN JOYCE (Minister of Transport) Link to this
I was in Tauranga this morning to announce Cabinet’s decision to approve tolling on the Tauranga Eastern Link—a 23-kilometre 4-lane highway from Te Maunga to Paengaroa. It bypasses Te Puke and is one of our seven roads of national significance. This approval, which is based on very strong local support, will allow construction to begin early next year—7 years earlier than originally planned. This project will bring huge economic and safety benefits to one of New Zealand’s fastest-growing regions.
The New Zealand Transport Agency undertook comprehensive community consultation last year with regard to tolling. I am pleased to report that over 90 percent of respondents either conditionally or unconditionally supported tolling to advance the project, and Cabinet took this high level of local support into account. Tolls are proposed to be $2 a trip for cars and motorcycles, and $5 for heavy vehicles. Once the borrowing has been repaid after 35 years, tolls will be removed. The existing State Highway 2 route through Te Puke will remain as a free alternative for drivers.
Let me count the ways. It is estimated that the new road, by avoiding Te Puke, will shave up to 24 minutes off travel time for a return journey on this very busy stretch of highway. This will substantially boost productivity and improve access for exporters to the Port of Tauranga. In addition, its new alignment will bring significant safety gains over the current road, which is ranked second-worst in New Zealand per kilometre for fatal and serious injury crashes by the KiwiRAP programme.