Transmission Gully opens

The long-awaited Transmission Gully motorway has officially opened.

The $1.25 billion project, which has seen numerous delays, was originally due to open in April 2020. The 27km motorway between Wellington and Kapiti can carry 25,000 vehicles a day and is expected to shorten peak journeys by seven to 15 minutes. The road represents the most significant government investment in New

Zealand’s infrastructure in a generation.

“The new motorway will also have economic benefits with faster movement of freight and more resilience in our transport links,” says Infrastructure Minister Grant

Robertson.

There are four new interchanges connecting to communities along the route, with 25 major structures, including bridges and large culverts constructed. All structures have been built to withstand a one-in-2500-year earthquake. The largest structure, Te Ara a Toa, is 230m long and 60m high.

Transport Minister

Michael Wood says Transmission Gully is one of the most significant and complex new roading projects undertaken in New Zealand.

Waka Kotahi general manager of transport services Brett Gliddon says a significant amount of work remains to complete all aspects of the project, and people using the motorway will see work continuing on and around the motorway for some time.

“Over the next 12 months, the contractor will be completing parts of the project that were planned for after the opening of the new road,” he says.

This includes finishing the construction of the new section of SH59 between Paekakariki and Mackays Crossing, completing the project’s walking and cycling tracks and other offroad works, and finishing the SH58 interchange. The southern section of SH59, between Mungavin Avenue and the SH1 Transmission Gully connection at Linden, will also be repaired and resurfaced.