Transmission Gully

Bronwyn Torrie at the Dom Post writes:

Porirua’s mayor is pleading for the Government to ring-fence cash for Transmission Gully to prevent the money being redirected to rebuilding Christchurch.

Wellington roading projects could be in jeopardy as the Government looks to shuffle about $15 billion toward Christchurch.

The prospect has prompted Porirua Mayor Nick Leggett to plead for the “economically critical” billion-dollar motorway project to be ring-fenced.

I’ve been an advocate for Transmission Gully for 20 years or so. I was incredibly happy when Steven Joyce put an end to decades of dithering and announced funding for Transmission Gully.

However I have to disagree with Mayor Leggett. Wellingtonians, as well as Aucklanders, have to be prepared to have some of our infrastructure spending delayed. rebuilding Christchurch must be the priority.

Now this is not to say that Transmission Gully should be removed as a road of national significance – merely that if it is necessary to delay it, then so be it.

Instead, he says the “sacrificial lamb” should be the Petone-to-Granada link road, expected to cost $250 million and ease pressure on Ngauranga Gorge.

Not sure it will be a choice of one or the other. Both may need to be delayed.