Transmission Gully and other road projects never far from the headlines

‘‘In November, the $270m Petone to Grenada link was signed off, a good outcome for Tawa and Takapu Valley residents.’’

Some important roading milestones were ticked off in 2015.

The first sod was turned on the $850 million Transmission Gully highway. The 27-kilometre, fourlane link between Linden and McKay’s Crossing will carry traffic by 2020, with major earthworks beginning next year.

The full impact the project will have on Porirua is yet to be realised. State Highway 1, through Pukerua Bay, Plimmerton and Mana, and past Porirua’s city centre, will become a secondary road.

There will be connections off Transmission Gully at Kenepuru Dr, near North City Tenpin, Warpsite Ave, near Waitangirua Mall, James Cook Drive in Whitby and SH58, just east of Pauatahanui.

In November, the $270m Petone to Grenada link was signed off, a good outcome for Tawa and Takapu Valley residents. Options for NZ Trans- port Agency included widening the motorway at Tawa or cutting through Takapu Valley.

The agency finally opted to carve through the Horokiwi crest between Petone and Tawa, and have four interchanges. Construction could begin in 2019 with completion in 2023.

Road widening began on Haywards Hill and a $43m interchange was confirmed at the Hutt Valley end of SH58. Work is under way and will take two years.