National pledges transport package for Bay and Coromandel

National’s Bay of Plenty and Coromandel transport package will create hundreds of jobs and drive economic growth across this fast-growing region, according to National’s Transport spokesperson Chris Bishop.

While visiting Katikati on Friday 24th July with MP Scott Simpson, Mr Bishop announced a suite of local transport projects that National would deliver in Government. This includes building the full Tauranga to Katikati Expressway, complete with a bypass at Katikati that will be a priority in the first term.

Mr Bishop says, “this project will connect the Bay of Plenty and Coromandel with a new world-class, four-lane expressway, replacing one of the most dangerous sections of the roads in the country.

“The Tauranga Northern Link was out for tender before the last election and the project has gone nowhere since, because Labour cut $5 billion from the state highway budget.

“Labour belatedly put money towards part of this critical project but chose not to fund the final section from Ōmokoroa to Katikati, including the bypass of the town. This is one of the most dangerous stretches of road in the country.”

National will invest $855 million in this project, with construction due to start in 2027.

MP Scott Simpson says “Three years of wasted opportunities to make muchneeded and long-awaited progress on some of the most dangerous roads in the North Island will be put right if my Party is given the responsibility of forming a new Government in September.

Crucial to the long term future prosperity of the region will be a new four lane highway from Katikati to Tauranga.

“A bypass of Katikati township would be nearly finished by now, if Winston Peters had gone with National rather than Labour and the Greens.

“We will get it underway very early if elected. We know how long Katikati people have been waiting and what price they’ve paid in both congestion and poor access to their town.

“There are never going to be fewer people living, working or holidaying on the Coromandel Peninsula and in the Western Bay of Plenty. We’re the Party of infrastructure and people know that we’ll get these roads and bridges built.

“This Coromandel and Bay of Plenty package will transform the region and can’t come soon enough,” he says.

Supplied article edited.