Media Release

25 October 2013

Numbers back highway, flyover

Wellington Employers’ Chamber of Commerce welcomes new calculations which show the planned changes to the highway between the airport and Levin will be even more beneficial than previously thought.

“These new figures further back up the Chamber’s view around the need for the changes, particularly the Basin Reserve flyover and the second Mt Victoria tunnel.

“More jobs, reduced travel times, and more lives saved on the road are exactly what the city and the region needs, and on these figures the changes will deliver all that.

“It’s also great news that the $2.5 billion spend is estimated to return $3 billion in benefits. That makes the whole project worthwhile. A benefit-cost ratio of 1.6 compared with the previous 1.1 means every part of the project will more than pay for itself.

“Some 865 additional permanent jobs for the region, not counting the 8000 jobs that the various parts of the project will generate, is a great result. But providing a safe and basically earthquake-proof route in and through the capital, coupled with eventual savings of 40 minutes off the trip between the airport and Levin during the morning peak, and reducing the number of fatal and serious crashes are the real bonus.

“The Basin flyover and the second Mt Victoria tunnel are crucial parts of this jigsaw and these latest figures are now all the proof needed that the changes will deliver a 21st century transport solution to Wellington.

“It’s crucial for the local economy that traffic flow at the Basin is improved. If it is not then efficiency gains from the proposed second Mt Victoria tunnel and other nearby roading changes, including public transport improvements, will be severely compromised.”

The Wellington Chamber is part of a wider regional organisation Business Central. Businesses throughout the bottom of the North Island need to see these developments proceed to realise their full potential.

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