Govt plan may halt road plans

Canterbury’s planned motorway improvements are under threat, but bus and cycleway projects could get a boost under the new Government.

Following his Tuesday release of the Government’s 10-year transport plan, Transport Minister Phil Twyford confirmed Canterbury and Christchurch projects were in for a shake-up.

The Government Policy Statement (GPS) would hike fuel taxes nationally and increase spending on rapid transit and road safety at the expense of future motorway construction and upgrades.

Twyford acknowledged that some Canterbury projects, such as the proposal to widen the Christchurch to Ashburton highway to four lanes, were less likely to go ahead.

‘‘We are reducing the spending for state highway improvements and I expect there are going to be far fewer four-lane carriageways built,’’ he said.

Last year the National-led Government pledged to widen the road to four lanes as part of a $10.5 billion nationwide roading upgrade, but had not yet set aside funds for the work.

Twyford said spending on public transport and cycleways would be increased, perhaps meaning more frequent buses. He also promised the plan would mean more money for local roads.

‘‘It offers some exciting opportunities for Canterbury.’’

He would not comment on whether commuter rail or other forms of mass transit such as bus lanes were on the cards for the region.

He denied a suggestion that the new plan’s emphasis on ‘‘value for money’’ work would mean regional districts and smaller cities subsidising Auckland.

‘‘The Government is not prepared to ask people in the rest of New Zealand for an open cheque for Auckland’s transport needs,’’ Twyford said.

In Christchurch, the National government’s roads of national significance project has seen an estimated $900 million spent upgrading major road links to and from the city, airport and port.

The city’s new western bypass is complete and construction of the southern motorway and northern arterial routes is under way.

Improvements have included four-laning and safety improvements, and construction of the Gateway Arches bridge by Christchurch Airport.

The National Party has calculated that Labour is cutting $5b out of the state highway building programme.

The party’s transport spokesman, Jami-Lee Ross, said the Government was about to ‘‘whack’’ New Zealanders with fuel tax hikes while cutting regional transport improvements.

‘‘At the same time the Government is planning to gut regional roading funding so it can pump more cash into trams in Auckland,’’ he said.

‘‘The Government needs to stop treating motorists like an ATM and it needs to deliver for our regions.’’

Ross said the previous Government had committed to funding its roading improvement programme through existing funding.

Twyford said details on how allocated budgets were spent would be decided by the NZ Transport Agency, guided by local body policies including Environment Canterbury’s regional land transport plan.

National’s regional development spokesman, Paul Goldsmith, said the previous Government’s plans to upgrade key provincial highways had been critically important to regional development and road safety, he said.

The GPS is open for consultation until May 2.