Napier to Hastings Expressway at risk

MP for Tukituki Lawrence Yule has today launched a petition aimed at saving the project that would ensure the four laning of the Napier to Hastings Expressway which is at risk of not going ahead.

“The previous National Government had committed to a large number of important regionalhighway projects including the Napier to Hastings Expressway. These roads would have improved safety and travel times, better connected our regions and boosted regional economic growth,” Mr Yule says.

"However, Transport Minister Phil Twyford now says that a number of these projects are under review and in question time confirmed a safety review was being done on the Napier to Hastings Expressway.

“The biggest safety issue on this road is the congestion at peak times which would have been eliminated by the planned four laning.

“I am going to do everything I can to ensure that the four laning of the Napier to Hastings Expressway is completed as promised by the previous Government - it is one of the few routes that has all the land available and is ready for construction.

“Hawke’s Bay is booming and we want the Government to commit to the infrastructure required to support growth and jobs.

“The Napier Port also recently announced that freight volumes are expected to grow by 50 per cent to 2026 at the same time great efforts are being made to take heavy traffic off Marine Parade.

“To ensure the voice of the region is heard I have today launched a petition so the public can show the Government how important the project is. I will be taking the online and physical petition to present to the Government later this year.”

The petition can be found here.

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