Start expressway earlier

The Ka¯ piti Coast Chamber of Commerce has welcomed news the Government will fund a four-lane expressway from O¯ taki to Levin but is concerned construction won’t begin until 2025 and completed in 2029.

Chamber chairwoman Jacinda Thorn said while the announcement is a relief to the business community, there is a sense of urgency to begin work as soon as possible, before 2025.

“The next phase of the expressway — Peka Peka to O¯ taki — is due to finish next year. It makes sense from an economical and construction perspective to begin O¯ taki to Levin straight after.

“We have construction workers already located here, people already on the ground doing the work and we’ve been talking about this section of road for 10 years, so why not begin straight away?”

Deputy chairman Sam Pritchard, and a local business owner in O¯ taki, said while the announcement was great news for the region, it still left people with uncertainty.

“There are a number of locals living in the 300m corridor which could be designated for the final road.

“Delaying the start of construction until 2025 means another five years of not knowing whether or not their home will be affected — impacting their ability to sell and move on, or the overall value of their home.”

The chamber was also disappointed that electrification of the rail network to O¯ taki was not part of the national rail announcement.

“With projected population growth — which will be spurred on by Transmission Gully — it’s timely and logical to increase capacity for people to travel to O¯ taki from Wellington by rail,” Jacinda said.

“We would have liked to see more from the Government today on this critical issue. A rail connection from Wellington to O¯ taki will mitigate some of the risks O¯ taki faces when the expressway bypasses the town as better connectivity will encourage more people to live there and in turn support an increase in local businesses.

“In 2020 the chamber will continue to push for O¯ taki to Levin to begin sooner than 2025, and for electrification of the rail network to O¯ taki. With the general election in just under eight months, these will be key issues for the chamber this year.”

We’ve been talking about this section of road for 10 years, so why not begin straight away? Jacinda Thorn Chamber of Commerce chairwoman