Making roads more resilient

The government has unveiled an investment package to build resilience in the roading network.

There will be significant upgrades when it comes to slip prevention, flood mitigation, and managing the risk of sea level rise around the country.

Michael Wood, Minister of Transport, says severe weather experienced this year has highlighted how crucial it is to invest in early preventative works to protect New Zealand’s transport network.

“We need to ensure communities stay connected as we see weather events become more common and damaging. 

“A strong network will give certainty that emergency vehicles can get where they need to go as quickly as possible, goods and services can move in and out of regions, and people can stay connected with friends and family.

“A $279 million package for state highways will focus on slip prevention, flood mitigation and managing the risk of sea-level rise. Waka Kotahi has worked with local communities to identify the highest risk areas.”

Projects will include slope stabilisation at various SH1 locations in Northland, such as Long Hill, Saunders Road and Kaiwaka, flood mitigation on the Auckland motorway network, and managing the risk of coastal inundation on SH6 at the top of the South Island.

Wood adds: “It also provides funding for 100 resilience projects including culverts, slip stabilisation, drainage improvements, rockfall protection and bridge erosion protection on state highways, which can start development immediately.”

Some of these projects announced in Budget 2023 include:

• Northland – Addressing high-priority land instability and subsidence issues, including SH1 at Longhill and SH12 north of Waipoua Forest.

• Auckland – Upgrades to pumping stations in Mount Wellington and Pukekohe to help prevent the motorways from flooding.

• Bay of Plenty – Rockfall protection at Ruahihi Bluff on SH29.

• Waikato – Constructing a retaining wall to prevent the risk of a slip and improve drainage at SH1 Bulli Point.

• Taranaki – Addressing coastal-flooding issues for SH3 including Tongaporutu Estuary and the Monhakatino Bridge.

• Wellington – Rockfall protection on SH59.

• Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough – Providing upgrades for route security including SH6 at Whangamoa, and Rai Saddle and Dashwood on SH1.

• Canterbury – Debris clearing in water channels on SH79 and SH1 to better manage water flows.

• West Coast – Addressing landslip, drainage and river erosion issues including high-priority coastal erosion and coastal flooding sites along SH6, and improvements at Meybille Bay on SH6 and Candys Bend on SH73.

• Otago and Southland – Addressing flooding issues such as on SH1 at Kakanui Straight, and the growing coastal-flooding risk at Ocean View, north of Bluff, securing access for the township and the port.

In addition to the state-highways package, the government is creating a transport resilience fund. This will support councils to develop and fund upgrades on local roads. It will provide $20m in support annually.

The initiative recognises the need to work closely with councils and communities to develop projects and solutions that work for them, says Wood. “This investment is another step in the government’s work to build back our transport network better and stronger.”