The AA is hoping to see much-needed highway safety projects get a boost from newly available funding within the transport budget.

There have been reports in recent days confirming what those in the sector have known for quite some time: that more than $300m of transport funding which had been planned for a rapid transit system in Auckland would now be able to be invested elsewhere due to delays in that project.

“The rapid transit cloud could have a major silver lining if we see the Government put the bulk of that money into advancing some critical highway projects around the country,” says AA Policy Manager Simon Douglas.

Upgrading high-risk stretches of highway like SH2 between Tauranga and Waihi, SH1 from Otaki to Levin, SH1 from Whangarei to Marsden Point, or SH58 in Wellington could all progress faster if funding is made available to them.

“Recently we have been hearing there was no money available to improve SH1 from Otaki to Levin until late next decade, despite it being one of the riskiest stretches of highway in the country,” says Simon.

“We don’t see that as acceptable for road safety or the communities left in limbo about when or if the needed new road will be built.

“We have roads with critical safety issues that need work now and the AA urges the Government to seize the opportunity the freeing up of this money presents.”

So far this year 246 people have died in crashes. There are lives to be saved and projects ready to proceed. It’s time to push the go button and accelerate these critical road safety projects.

For more information contact:

Simon Douglas
Policy Manager
New Zealand Automobile Association
M. 021 607 647
E. sdouglas@aa.co.nz