Media statement | 28 June 2006

Repairs and maintenance Land Transport NZ’s focus for Manawatu/Wanganui

Repairs and maintenance of flood damaged roads in the Manawatu/Wanganui district continues to be the focus in the 2006/07 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP).

Land Transport NZ today announced $2.3 billion in transport spending for New Zealand in 2006/07, including nearly $53 million for investment in the Manawatu/Wanganui land transport network, including:

• $42 million for maintenance of state highways and local roads
• $8 million for construction of state highways and local roads
• $1 million for passenger transport services.

This year’s maintenance allocation for Manawatu/Wanganui has reduced from last year, due to the significant emergency works expenditure in 2005/06 resulting from the February 2004 floods.

Land Transport NZ chair Dr Jan Wright says the agency and its partners are committed to making Manawatu/Wanganui’s major routes safer and more efficient, and making passenger transport more attractive as an alternative to using the car.

Funding has been committed for the continuation of the realignment of SH 1 near Hihitahi Bluffs between Taihape and Waiouru, to improve safety. Projects which may be funded throughout the year include:

• The start of a three year programme of seal extensions in Rangitikei on the Napier-Taihape Road
• Construction of the Awahuri intersection on SH 3 to improve safety and traffic flows
• In Palmerston North, three significant upgrading projects to James Lane, Kelvin Grove and Railway Road and pavement smoothing work.

Funding for NZ Police land transport activities in the Manawatu/Wanganui region totals $14 million. The road safety goal for the Manawatu/Wanganui region is that by 2010 fatalities and hospitalisations will be fewer than 300 per annum. There were 559 fatalities and hospitalisations due to road crashes in 2005.

Dr Wright says the activities funded through the NLTP reflect Land Transport NZ’s objective of contributing to an integrated, safe, responsive and sustainable land transport system.

“New Zealand faces huge transport challenges. The $2.3 billion allocated by this year’s NLTP will help us meet those challenges.”

Regional newsletters, a fact sheet and the NLTP book, which details all projects in the 2006/07 NLTP, will be available at www.landtransport.govt.nz from 6pm today.

For more information:

Andy Knackstedt
Land Transport NZ Media Manager
(04) 931-8822 or 0212 763 222

Ian Hunter
Partnership Manager, Central
(04) 931 8900
0274 506 966