Media statement | 28 June 2006

Safety and improved traffic flow Land Transport NZ’s focus for Canterbury

Safety and improvements to traffic flow are the focus for the Canterbury in the 2006/07 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP).

Land Transport NZ today announced $2.3 billion in transport spending for New Zealand in 2006/07, including nearly $88 million for investment in Canterbury’s land transport network, including:

• $62 million for maintenance of state highways and local roads
• $9 million for construction of state highways and local roads
• $14 million for passenger transport services.

Land Transport NZ chair Dr Jan Wright says the agency and its partners are committed to making Canterbury’s major routes safer and more efficient, and making passenger transport more attractive as an alternative to using the car.

Funding has been committed for the continuation of major projects, including:

• An update of the Christchurch transportation model for Christchurch city, Transit New Zealand and Environment Canterbury
• Intersection improvements in Waimakariri district including Flaxton/Skewbridge/Threlkelds roads and Tram/Jacksons roads to reduce delays and improve safety.

Projects which may be funded during the year include:

• Intersection improvements on SH 1 in the Washdyke industrial area and Timaru ports southern access to improve safety
• Design of the Christchurch southern motorway extension, to provide better access in the south west corridor to and from the city and port Lyttelton
• Investigation of the Christchurch northern arterial road to improve traffic flows
• Improvements to the Marshland Road/Queen Elizabeth II Drive intersection on SH 74 in Christchurch, to reduce delays
• Improvements to the Yaldhurst/Curletts Road intersection on SH 73 to relieve congestion
• The installation of traffic signals at the Halswell Junction Road/SH 1 intersection to improve safety and improve traffic flows.

Funding for NZ Police land transport activities in the Canterbury region totals $22 million. The road safety goal for the Canterbury region is that by 2010 fatalities and hospitalisations will be fewer than 530 per year. There were 748 fatalities and hospitalisations due to road crashes in 2005.

Dr Wright says the activities funded through the NLTP reflect Land Transport NZ’s objective of contributing to an integrated, safe, responsive and sustainable land transport system.

“New Zealand faces huge transport challenges. The $2.3 billion allocated by this year’s NLTP will help us meet those challenges.”

Regional newsletters, a fact sheet and the NLTP book, which details all projects in the 2006/07 NLTP, will be available at www.landtransport.govt.nz from 6pm today.

For more information:

Andy Knackstedt
Land Transport NZ Media Manager
(04) 931-8822 or 0212 763 222

Jackie Curtis
Partnership Manager, Southern
(03) 964 2866
027 249 9566