$180m final cost for LGWM released
More than $180 million was spent on the cancelled Let’s Get Wellington Moving project with a pedestrian crossing, speed reductions, a roundabout, and changes to Thorndon Quay the only physical proof it ever existed.
Let’s Get Wellington Moving (LGWM) was a joint $7.4 billion capital transport project 60% funded by NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi with the Wellington City Council and the Greater Wellington Regional Council paying the rest. It was cancelled by the new Government soon after coming to office.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi yesterday released the project’s total cost, which came in at $180,676,672.
Even after being cancelled in December, $13.8m was spent. That is $60m more than the $120m spent by August – when the then-Labour government was refusing to commit to the scheme and National said it would ditch it if it came to power.
Physical work amounted to Thorndon Quay changes including a bus lane and cycle way, a roundabout on Aotea Quay, a pedestrian crossing across Cobham Dr, and slower speeds on State Highway 1 in the eastern suburbs, and a speed limit reduction on most central city streets, the agency confirmed.
LGWM was to have been a major overhaul of the city’s transport with light rail, a second Mount Victoria tunnel, cycling and pedestrian improvements but was beset with multiple cost blowouts. When the Government announced it was ditching the plan, it said that it would go it alone on the second tunnel, which may now be a much longer tunnel under the central city to Kilbirnie.
The city council is planning to make changes to the Golden Mile itself.
Waka Kotahi system design national manager Robyn Elston said just under $70m was spent on “progressing the planning and delivery” of City Streets cycling, walking, and street changes, as well as the Golden Mile works, and the already-underway changes to Thorndon Quay and tentatively-deferred work on Hutt Rd.
A further $50.5m went on developing a proposal for rapid transit and changes to SH1.
Consultants – previously reported to have cost tax and ratepayers $38.5m before 2023 with another $35m expected to be spent last year – were included in those costs.
Transport Minister Simeon Brown