Media Release
Regional Council welcome SH 2 plans
24 October 2018

Bay of Plenty Regional Council has welcomed the Government’s plans to improve the safety of the State Highway 2 (SH2) corridor between Waihī and Tauranga.

The New Zealand Transport Agency has re-evaluated the transport plans for the corridor to align with priorities set out in the Government Policy Statement on Land Transport.

Regional Transport Committee Chairman Stuart Crosby says SH2 is the region’s highest transport priority and it is encouraging that the local communities have been heard.

“As a council we put three SH2 projects at the top of the state highway improvement priority list in the draft Regional Land Transport Plan in May,” Councillor Crosby says.

The NZTA has announced new plans for SH2 that deliver a new road with potential for priority lanes for public transport/high occupancy vehicles as well as maintaining the existing two lane highway.

Cr Crosby says the region needs that capacity as a matter of urgency.

“Across the region we will be driving hard in support of the fastest and best solutions to make our region’s roads safer, less congested and more sustainable.”

Leaders in the Western Bay of Plenty will work with the NZTA on a joint approach that develops future transport in line with urban planning, economic development, freight demand and job growth.

ENDS

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