Mega motorway excites
With Transmission Gully well and truly open, we asked locals what they thought of the driving experience. Here are some of the responses.
■ Pat Cumming: Absolutely amazing. Ten minute drive from the bottom of the Wainui Saddle to Pauatahanu.
What an awesome job done by everyone involved. Well worth the wait.
■ Niki Evans: My little car hated the two steep hills thank goodness for the slow lanes. Amazing job by all involved.
Now looking forward to less traffic queues on the old state highway.
■ Jill Brown: Loved it. Great road to drive apart from the few odd chips that flew up but a magnificent feat of engineering and long overdue.
■ Lolina Whitney: Amazing. The view as you head down to Ka¯piti is breathtaking.
■ Rebecca Jane: Loved it. I was very impressed.
■ Darren Giles: I drove down to Tawa turned around and came back again. It's a fantastic road.
My only comment is that when the Otaki ¯ bypass is finished as well we will have a motorway from Wellington to Levin but no service stations unless you make a detour off the road at one of the junctions.
■ Margy Murphy: Had the pleasure of driving to and from work on this. Only commute Thursday/Friday. What a dream trip in comparison to the hold-ups like last Thursday's effort of 2 and a 1/2 hours to get home to Waikanae. Drove it in the dark at 6.30am and in the light at 6.30pm.
Brilliant. Next time I want to be the passenger so I can actually enjoy the new views on offer.
■ Dean Brain: Forty-five minutes O¯ taki to Lower Hutt. Amazing. Can't wait for the haywards to be finished 2067.
■ Leanne Rohloff: Most importantly it's an alternative route into or out of Wellington, it's faster and more streamline — there will always be teething problems and folk that are
complaining need to look in the mirror at their negative attitude!!
Because next time there is an accident on State Highway 59 — they'll be grateful for SH1.
■ Martyn Bridge: Great road to drive but sorry to be negative, the turn off to Paeka¯ka¯riki is a shambles especially at night.
■ Brookelle Quinn: It's just another road.
■ Rinnae Nattrass: All I can say is, it's a gas-guzzler. My car was revving in struggle to get up the hilly parts. Other than that, all good. Yet to drive the rest of it.
■ Gemma GK: It's incredible. The work that has gone on — all while we couldn't see it is amazing. It's lovely to drive.
■ Ollie Wilde: She's pretty steep. My van can't do it. My ranger needs a really good push also.
■ Kevin Aldrich: Absolutely brilliant, will need more petrol because of the hills.
Other reactions
■ Waka Kotahi transport services general manager Brett Gliddon:
The road has been built to the very highest safety specifications, and we know it will save lives and prevent serious injuries.
■ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern: Transmission Gully will transform the Wellington region, making it quicker and safer for people and goods to travel through the lower North Island. The seven to 15-minute shorter
journey for about 25,000 vehicles a day means a productivity gain of 1640 hours meaning less time spent in cars and more time at work and with family.
■ Transport Minister Michael Wood: What was a series of steep valleys, crisscrossed with streams, and flanked by inaccessible hills, is now a state-of-the-art motorway that crosses gullies, passes over waterways and winds through pristine native bush.
■ Infrastructure Minister Grant Robertson: Transmission Gully provides a safer and more reliable route to ensure Wellington remains connected in the event of an earthquake or major storm severing other transport routes. The new motorway will also have economic benefits with faster movement of freight and more resilience in our transport links.
■ O¯ taki MP Terisa Ngobi: This is going to make such a difference for our all our regions coming right through to the capital. The road is nice, safe and cuts off so much time.
■ Mana MP Barbara Edmonds: This [the opening] is a massive day for Mana and O¯ taki electorates.
■ Former O¯ taki MP Nathan Guy: A fantastic 27km vision and commitment by National. I felt very proud at the formal opening. Congratulations to all.