Traffic plan postponed until 2019

Plans to get Wellington’s congested traffic network moving have been hit by yet another delay.

A multibillion-dollar plan to ease traffic congestion between Wellington Airport and the Ngauranga Gorge was expected to be announced before the end of the year.

But Transport Minister Phil Twyford said yesterday it was now hoped the plan would be released to the public in early 2019.

‘‘Officials are still working with Wellington City Council and the Greater Wellington Regional Council on this package,’’ said Twyford. ‘‘We hope to have something to announce early next year.’’

The ambitious plan is understood to include light rail between the airport and Wellington Railway Station, duplicate Mt Victoria and Terrace tunnels, and an underground State Highway 1 route between those tunnels.

Separating local and state highway traffic at the Basin Reserve, possibly through a tunnel, is also believed to be part of the master plan, which would cost between $3 billion and $4b.

But details around how to fund the project, as well as the order in which various elements would be constructed, are continuing to hold up the project.

The final proposal, which will come from collaboration between the city and regional councils and the New Zealand Transport Agency, was originally expected to be announced in August, before being pushed back to later this year.

Programme director Barry Mein said yesterday there was no specific target date for the announcement, which he hoped would be made within the next few months.

‘‘There are still some discussions going on with central Government,’’ Mein said.

He confirmed the delay centred around how the project would be funded but said that ‘‘broader issues’’ were also being discussed, such as how the programme would be rolled out.

‘‘Given the discussions that have to take place, it could possibly be after Christmas, but I don’t really know.’’

The continuing delays do not sit well with O¯ ha¯riu-based National List MP Brett Hudson, the party’s associate transport spokesman.

‘‘The Let’s Get Wellington Moving governance group had previously stated the recommended programme would be released in October following engagement with the Government,’’ he said.

‘‘We’re calling on the Government to quit stalling and be upfront with Wellingtonians about what funding they will commit to our transport system.’’

Wellington-based National List MP Nicola Willis agreed, calling on Twyford to ‘‘show some leadership’’.

‘‘Wellington is at a standstill and locals have had enough.’’