Transmission Gully: Kapiti commuters can save time by driving on the motorway or save on lower fares by opting for rail

At  last  Transmission Gully is  open, an engineering  and  construction marvel, a moorway that’s delight to travel  on.

Cutting the ribbon for its  opening, the PM seemed almost  surprised by  the  excitement it  created.

It  was ”testament to  what can be achieved in spite  of a  rough start and in spite of a one-in-100-year pandemic”, Jacinda Ardern said.

For Kapiti Coast commuters, the  new motorway, 27km in length, provides welcome relief from the  old, highly dangerous, time-consuming Centennial Highway.

But the Ardern government has presented them with  a  fresh dilemma.

It comes  through the introduction of half-price  fares on public transport, meaning  those  who use the Metro trains on the run between Paekakariki and  Wellington  can save $125 a  month  on  the  cost  of a  monthly commuter ticket.  If that becomes permanent the saving  translates to $1500  a  year. 

Buzz from the Beehive: Oh dear, Robertson dents the Nats in a sideswipe about Transmission Gully delays

Communication, in various forms, was a common factor in three of the latest statements from the Beehive.

One of these – released in the names of the PM and two other ministers – declared that Jacinda Ardern has officially opened the Transmission Gully motorway, in time for the Easter break, school holidays, “and the return of tourists to New Zealand”.

Two other statements, dealing with digital-age technologies, advised us of –

• A new research project which aims to fast-track the delivery of a digital solution for farm environment plans.
• The latest data which records progress in improving internet connectivity for rural areas across the country.

Oh – and there was some stuff about Covid-19 and how to combat it.

The Government has launched a new targeted rural service of rapid antigen tests for those who live in remote rural areas. And new guidance for businesses and organisations to help them deal with upcoming changes to vaccination requirements has been released.

Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta popped up, too, with news she has signed a partnership statement.

Not a treaty partnership statement.  This one strengthens this country’s relationship with  Fiji. 

Yes, we could play the blame game, but look on the bright side – Transmission Gully expressway will soon be open for traffic

One of  New Zealand ’s  great  construction projects  will soon be  open for  traffic.  It  is  the Transmission  Gully  expressway   over  27km north  of  Wellington  from Porirua to  connect  with  the  expressway  south of  Paraparaumu  through to  Otaki.

Wellingtonians  familiar  with  the  Centennial  Highway  (the  sole  highway  at present to the  north  out of  the capital) that dates back to  the  days  of  Labour’s  great roadbuilder, Bob Semple, have  been frustrated   with the  delays  stretching   the  construction period  far  beyond the  original timeline.

Yet  the  blame  game for  the  delays  cannot  disguise  this  project is  an  engineering  marvel   that  will alleviate the traffic bottleneck that  often chokes traffic  moving  to  and  from the  capital.

The four-lane  expressway  will  be  a  particular  boon  for the  heavy traffic  vehicles   that have  become  an essential element in the  supply  chain.  It cuts  through  what  was extremely difficult  terrain   and  those  who have seen  it  from  the  air  say  it  is  a spectacular  achievement  for  the  roadbuilders.

If we wait long enough, Transmission Gully will be opened and our waterways will be cleansed

People in the Wellington region who are frustrated by the delays with the Transmission Gully project might take some (small) comfort from knowing that – after 30 years – the Hundertwasser Art Centre in Whangarei has been opened.

Prime Minister John Key and other bigwigs took part in in the soil turning ceremony at the northern end of the Transmission Gully highway in September 2014,

But opening day has been delayed indefinitely after four previous extensions of the deadline.

Meanwhile,  the total cost have blown out to $1.25b – $400m more than originally agreed (and probably more by the time the job is done).

In the Far North, it should be noted, the public opening of the Hundertwasser Art Centre in Whangarei was the realisation of a 30-year project, although the costs were somewhat more modest.

Here’s hoping Transport Minister applies Transmission Gully lessons (and delays) to Light Rail project in Auckland

The Transmission Gully interim review has found serious flaws at the planning stage of the 27km highway, “undermining” the successful completion of the four-lane motorway north of Wellington, according to Infrastructure Minister Grant Robertson and Transport Minister Michael Wood.

Grant Robertson said the review found the public-private partnership (PPP) established under the last National government lacked the proper rigour and consideration.

The review was focused on how the project was awarded for the agreed price, whether the price was realistic, and whether the risks then identified were appropriately considered.

When  announcing  the  review  in  August last  year,  the  government said Transmission Gully would open by September 2021 but will cost another $208m to build, taking  the  cost  to $1.25bn.  Originally the  project’s  cost  was put  at $850m,   but Covid lockdowns  set it spiralling upwards.

At  that point in 2020 the government was  said  to have   “slammed” the delays and increased costs.

But hey – remember  that  Phil  Twyford  had   already  had  three  years as  Transport  Minister  to  expedite  the  project .  Yet all he  did was  order  a  review.