My Account
The Government has spent just over $26 million to date on the Warkworth to Wellsford motorway project, according to figures released to Mahurangi Matters under the Official Information Act.
A further $5 million is in the pipeline for investigation work, despite uncertainty about the road’s future.
The costs cover specialist consultants of $3.2 million and property acquisition of $9.4 million.
Communications, indicative route work, detailed business case, pre-implementation and programme management swallowed up the balance of spending.
The Road of National Significance, proposed by the former National government, started in 2012.
However, the New Zealand Transport Agency deferred the release of an indicative route to the public in February this year, after the Labour government changed its transport project priorities.
The indicative route is forecast to save about seven minutes for general traffic and 10 minutes for freight between Te Hana and Warkworth. It will also remove around 90 per cent of through traffic from Wellsford’s main street. Three interchanges are proposed along the route – one at the northern end of the Puhoi to Warkworth motorway, the second at Wayby Valley Road and the third at Mangawhai Road.
A final decision on the future of the motorway project is expected to be known when the National Land Transport Plan is released on August 31.
