Tauranga MP Simon Bridges says he is 'gutted” with what he calls a 'delayed cancellation” of Stage Two construction on the Takitimu North Link

Plans involving the Stage Two period of construction on the road have been changed, with work said to be unlikely within the next 10 years.

Whilst Stage One construction works will begin later this year, the secondary stage will require funding through the National Land Transport Programme, which will not happen in the next three years and a decade of inactivity likely.

Stage One is a 6.8km four-lane expressway between Tauranga and Te Puna.

Stage Two is set to be a 7km extension between Te Puna and Omokoroa which will be progressed as part of the New Zealand Upgrade Programme.

The Government says they have decided to make the changes to meet climate change and housing objectives, as well as manage debt responsibly following Covid-19.

But Bridges believes the decision will have a major impact on traffic and road safety in the area.

'I'm gutted,” Bridges says.

He states that Labour went into the last election promising residents in Omokoroa the improvement to roading infrastructure along SH2 but suggests they are now intending to give them half of what they initially pledged.

'It is not only a broken promise but it means thousands staying in traffic and continued deaths on that killer road - SH2 from Te Puna - even when Te Puna does get built.”

Whilst the Government have stated their intention to eventually deliver the Stage Two construction, Bridges believes that seems unlikely.

'I would say it is definitely a cancellation. The reason for that is if you are not going to fund it, it is not happening and, of course, anything can happen in a decade's time.”

Minister for Infrastructure Grant Robertson says that modifications to projects on the NZUP have had to be made in order to keep debt under control whilst highlighting its importance in any economic recovery.

'NZUP is already supporting over 1,000 jobs with 13 projects underway, helping to secure our economic recovery,” Robertson says.

'Covid-19 has increased construction costs around the world, and we've done the work upfront to understand the impact on NZUP projects which were announced pre-pandemic.

'Fully funding the new estimated costs for every project would have cost up to $6 billion extra on top of the original $6.8 billion, so instead we've taken a balanced approach with a mix of additional investment and a handful of projects being re-scoped while also keeping a lid on debt.”

But Bridges believes that will be of little comfort to residents who now face at least a decade-long wait for the full scope of the Takitimu North Link project to take shape.

'The biggest point is that people continue to have no hope of anything other than massively congested roads, hours in traffic and deaths which we see every other week,” he says.

'It is one of the worst roads in New Zealand.”

Waka Kotahi have stated they will work closely with potentially affected landowners on Stage Two to explain what it means for them.

'State Highway 2 is a busy highway with a poor safety record,” says a statement from Waka Kotahi NZTA and the Government.

'The Takitimu North Link Stage One will significantly improve safety and accessibility, build resilience, support growth and provide more transport choice for communities.”

Waka Kotahi has awarded the first part of the design and construct contract for Stage One. Design and preparatory activities are underway, while property negotiations continue.

Takitimu North Link Stage One will see construction of a new 6.8km four-lane corridor, use of two lanes to prioritise public transport, freight and vehicles carrying multiple people, new 6.8km separated walking and cycling path, a new bridge crossing at Wairoa River, an overbridge interchange at Minden Road, underpasses at Cambridge Road and Wairoa Road, a new westbound single lane connection from Fifteenth Avenue to Takitimu Drive Toll Road and a northbound flyover and southbound bypass lane at the SH29 interconnection/interface.

Design and construction activities, including geotechnical investigations are now under way for Stage One whilst route protection is also ongoing for Stage Two. Construction on Stage one is due to begin at the end of this year with construction scheduled to be complete by 2026.