Transmission Gully

2022 - 3 - 28

Post cover — Image courtesy of "Otago Daily Times"

PM opens Wellington's Transmission Gully (Otago Daily Times)

A pōwhiri has welcomed Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, National Party deputy leader Nicola Willis, and MPs and mayors from across the region to the ceremony.

"So this road is going to give us resilience ... it's going to make traffic more reliable and therefore make it easier for people to get around." Baker said the old State Highway 1 was constantly congested. "So the drive time, the fact that there's another road to and from the city in case of incidents - I think it's going to be absolutely wonderful, and that's an understatement, for our region."

Wellington's Transmission Gully is officially open (Stuff.co.nz)

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has officially declared open the Transmission Gully motorway, while the road has been named Te Aranui o Te Rangihaeata.

He described the road as a “significant achievement”, which was one of the most complex roading projects ever undertaken in New Zealand. We have cleaned up their mess so commuters going in and out of Wellington will finally be able to use the alternative route. Our bustling capital newsroom published nearly 3800 stories in the past year on this city, wind, hail, horizontal rain or shine. The road has been built to withstand a one-in-2500-year earthquake. Another local, Jack Stanton, had extensive plans for the cafes he would visit after his first ride on the new motorway. “It is no secret the project has been talked about for many decades. It would also open the Pukerua Bay to Plimmerton stretch for development, she said. I applaud all who have made this happen.” Just because ... Been a long time coming.” Projects like this here are an example of what we can achieve.” Blue Freeman said “Pukerua Bay to Paekākāriki has to have been one of the most frustrating stretches of highway in the country and now it will become a minor highway, a title it has always deserved. Ardern officially opened the new stretch of highway with a ribbon-cutting on Wednesday morning and the motorway will open to the public on Thursday. Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency said the motorway was set to open to traffic “within 24 hours”.

Countdown begins for motorists to test much delayed Transmission ... (RNZ)

The $1.25 billion motorway between Wellington and Kāpiti has been riddled with delays and was originally due to open in April 2020.

Resident groups opposed to the project were also established. The agency now says water quality and the surrounding environment will be in a better state than before the motorway was built within "less than 10 years" of Transmission Gully opening. A fortnight ago, Waka Kotahi told contractor Wellington Gateway Partnership the motorway must be open by the end of the month.

Open at last! Ardern cuts ribbon on new-look SH1 highway out of ... (New Zealand Herald)

The new $1.25 billion motorway will open to traffic today.

Around two and a half million native trees and plants were planted as part of the project." It is a true testament to the skill and dedication of the some 8,000 individuals who have worked on this project." "This is an important piece of infrastructure it will be a a huge benefit to the Wellington region but everyone feels a bit of frustration over how long this has taken," he told MIke Hosking. Transmission Gully has been built to the highest safety specifications and will provide a much safer route for road users, Wood said. Transport Minister Michael Wood said Transmission Gully is one of the most significant and complex new roading projects ever undertaken in New Zealand - but he undertsood the frustration over how long the road has taken. After a "huge amount of work" on the project over the summer, Waka Kotahi has said it's now confident the road has reached a stage where it is safe for public use. It means the four-lane road will be open in time for the Easter break, school holidays, and the return of tourists to New Zealand. The Transmission Gully link roads, connecting the Porirua suburbs of Whitby and Waitangirua to the new motorway, were blessed in a ceremony yesterday. Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency has instructed the contractor to open the road by the end of March. The road will open to traffic tomorrow. Admitting it was not without its challenges, Ardern said Transmission Gully is " a testament to what can be achieved in spite of a rough start and in spite of a one-in-100-year pandemic." "The engineering of this project was always going to be a challenge, but it's fair to say it has been a challenge in many other respects as well." In a speech to the waiting crowd she said it was no secret that a road connecting Wellington to the lower North Island through Transmission Gully has been talked about for many decades.

Problem-plagued Transmission Gully opening today (1 News)

The long-awaited motorway between Wellington and Kapiti Coast is being officially opened on Wednesday.

Waka Kotahi said none of the deferred tests would compromise public safety, as they relate to ensuring the long-term quality of the road. It's expected the road will be open to the public within 24 hours of this morning's ceremony. "We have a pathway that will be used by generations to come."

Motorists won't be told what time Transmission Gully motorway ... (Newshub)

It's understood the reason no time has been given is because Waka Kotahi doesn't want people queuing up and causing congestion.