MEDIA RELEASE

TRANSIT NEW ZEALAND NATIONAL OFFICE

5 September 2007

Review of SH1 Paremata to Plimmerton Upgrade officially started

The joint Transit New Zealand/Porirua City Council review of the Paremata to Plimmerton Upgrade, including the operation of the T2 lanes along Mana Esplanade, has officially begun with the contract to undertake the work now awarded.

Transit’s Central Operations Manager, Mark Owen, says the contract was awarded to the joint venture of Hyder Consulting and Boffa Miskell this week to conduct the 14 week review of the Paremata to Plimmerton Upgrade. This review will include the operation of the T2 lanes along Mana Esplanade on SH1 and consider what changes, if any, could be made.

The review covers the entire area from immediately south of the Paremata roundabout to immediately north of the Plimmerton roundabout, including SH58 modifications. It will include the operational, environmental and safety impacts of the upgrade project and include the operation of the T2 lanes.

Porirua City Council Chief Executive Roger Blakeley says Porirua City Council and Transit are working jointly on the review to ensure that the views and concerns of the local community, motorists and motoring groups are included.

“We expect to give everyone a fair chance to have their say in this review and make their suggestions about what could be done to improve the operation and safety of the T2 lanes,” Mr Blakeley says.

“We want to canvas people with a robust survey which will involve the local community and road users as well as public consultation,” Mr Owen says.

The review has been tendered for a cost $70,000 with interim results available in late November this year.

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