MEDIA RELEASE

30 August 2012

NZ Transport Agency – Auckland Regional Office

No change to status of Puhoi-to-Wellsford RONS says NZTA

The NZ Transport Agency has confirmed that there is no change to the status of the Puhoi to Wellsford road of national significance north of Auckland, and apologised for any confusion caused by an error in a pamphlet published yesterday as part of announcements for the 2012-15 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP).

NZTA Chief Executive Geoff Dangerfield says it is planned to upgrade the entire route, but the preferred alignment and timing of construction of the Warkworth to Wellsford section of the road of national significance is yet to be determined.

All of the material released yesterday as part of the 2012-15 National Land Transport Programme gives emphasis to the activities planned for the next 3 years. One pamphlet, relating to Auckland, contained an error with a map referring to the Warkworth to Wellsford section as a “possible” road of national significance.

The NZTA announced in April this year that it had determined the preferred route to build a new motorway between Puhoi and Warkworth.

“We said then, and repeat now, that the new route will form part of the whole Puhoi to Wellsford road of national significance,” Mr Dangerfield says. “We also said that an indicative route for the Warkworth to Wellsford section was not being announced at that time, because we have not yet done the necessary work to determine where this section of the highway will go and do not expect to do so within the next 3 year period. That was what the dotted line on the map was meant to convey.”

There is no change to the status of the Puhoi to Wellsford RoNS.

ENDS

The NZ Transport Agency works to create transport solutions for all New Zealanders – from helping new drivers earn their licences, to leading safety campaigns to investing in public transport, state highways and local roads. Follow us on twitter @nzta_news.

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