Media statement | 28 June 2006

Safety and improved traffic flow Land Transport NZ’s focus for Otago and Southland

Safety and improvements to traffic flow are the focus for Otago and Southland 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 $95 million for investment in Otago/Southland’s land transport network, including:

• $79 million for maintenance of state highways and local roads
• $11 million for construction of state highways and local roads
• $2 million for passenger transport services.

Land Transport NZ chair Dr Jan Wright says the agency and its partners are committed to making Otago and Southland’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 major projects including the road realignment on SH 1 between Tumai and Waikouaiti to reduce travel time and improve safety.

Projects which may be funded during the year include:

• Design of the replacement of the Tiwai bridge to the Bluff Aluminium Smelter, which will improve access for commercial vehicles
• Investigation of the Caversham four laning project on SH 1, which will reduce traffic congestion
• Construction of the Tunnel Hill realignment, west of Lawrence on SH 8, to improve safety
• Alignment of the East Road curve on SH 1 in Southland to improve safety
• Extensive remedial work at Nevis Bluff on SH 6 in Otago, removing loose rock from the rock face above the road to improve safety
• Construction of an information kiosk on SH 94 (Milford Road) in Southland, to provide travellers with information about road conditions and weather.

Funding for NZ Police land transport activities in the region totals $16 million. The road safety goal for the Otago/Southland region is that by 2010 fatalities and hospitalisations will be fewer than 300 per annum. There were 504 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
021 276 3222

Jackie Curtis
Partnership Manager, Southern
(03) 964 2866
027 249 9566