The coalition Government is launching Roads of Regional Significance that will sit alongside Roads of National Significance. Together, these replace the NZ Upgrade programme. This represents part of the government’s plan to deliver priority roading projects across the country, according to Transport Minister, Simeon Brown.
He said “The Roads of National Significance (RoNS) are some of New Zealand’s most successful state highway corridors, reducing congestion and improving safety.
“Expanding this programme to roads that are regionally significant will ensure that our cities and regions are well connected, and our economy thrives.
“Similar to RoNS, Roads of Regional Significance will single out essential routes that require prioritisation.
“Roads of National Significance and Roads of Regional Significance will replace the NZ Upgrade Programme (NZUP).
Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have agreed to delegate all decision-making responsibilities around project scope and delivery to the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA). Ministers will no longer determine these aspects of major roading initiatives.
“We are changing how decisions are made on these projects and NZTA will be progressing with two RoNS and ten RoRS. Two further projects will now be incorporated into the Mill Road and Whangarei to Port Marsden Roads of National Significance” Mr Brown explained.
“To deliver these projects, difficult decisions were made to keep costs within the existing $6.54 billion funding. We have made clear to NZTA that it must deliver these projects within the existing funding envelope, as there will be no additional Crown funding,” Mr Brown said.
Today’s announcement is expected to provide certainty of delivery to communities across the country that will benefit from these roading investments.
Projects progressed as roads of regional significance include:
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