$72m interchange for Hutt

A $72 million ‘‘fast-track’’ investment for a new Melling interchange on State Highway 2 at Lower Hutt was announced by Prime Minister Bill English yesterday.

If re-elected, National would also investigate and design a new interchange at Kennedy-Good, in Kelson – situated a couple of kilometres north on the highway from Melling.

The estimated $72m to complete the interchange would come from the National Land Transport Fund and the Budget capital allowance.

A ‘‘significant portion of the construction would be completed in the next term of government,’’ said Transport Minister Simon Bridges, who accompanied English on his visit to Lower Hutt.

The Hutt Valley was an area experiencing significant growth, English said at the announcement.

‘‘We have the opportunity to support that growth with the kind of infrastructure projects which people have imagined for a long time but haven’t actually happened till now.

‘‘We’ll fund the $72m for the interchange and also accelerate the planning and consideration of the interchange at Kennedy-Good.

"What that will enable is closer links from Wellington right out to Upper Hutt, which will encourage the further growth of the whole Hutt Valley."

Prime Minister Bill English

‘‘What that will enable is closer links from Wellington right out to Upper Hutt, which will encourage the further growth of the whole Hutt Valley.’’

The Hutt City Council-owned Melling Bridge across the Hutt River at the current traffic-signal controlled intersection will also be replaced, with more discussion on how it will be paid for.

‘‘The new interchange will improve travel times for people and freight moving around the Wellington region, support economic growth and boost the region’s productivity,’’ Bridges said.

Improving the intersection at Melling was a top transport priority for Hutt Valley residents, National list MP and Hutt South candidate Chris Bishop said.

‘‘Getting traffic into Lower Hutt faster without clogging up State Highway 2 will be a big bonus and it’ll be easier for people to get back across the bridge to the highway at the end of the day.

‘‘We’re also working with Hutt City Council to find a replacement option for Melling Bridge, which is the choke-point for water flow in the Hutt River and just isn’t wide enough to cope with traffic needs.

‘‘It’s already been prioritised by the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA), so it was going to happen anyway.’’

Labour’s Hutt South candidate Ginny Andersen said the announcement ‘‘seems like a preelection lolly scramble’’.

‘‘It was proposed to go ahead anyway, so I’m a bit confused as to why it justified an announcement.’’

Construction of the interchange would also happen under Labour, she said.

Lower Hutt Mayor Ray Wallace welcomed the funding for an ‘‘often congested’’ intersection.

‘‘Going forward, regardless of who the next government is, I hope they see the importance of investing in infrastructure for a region like ours that is growing so strongly.’’