A Coastal Highway Group Report
In announcing the $30 million upgrade of the Matahorua Gorge on State Highway 2 north of Napier, Transport Minister Steven Joyce said it would realign a narrow and winding 4.5 kilometre section of road which is heavily trafficked by freight, particularly logging trucks. Those of us who regularly drive between Wellington and Kāpiti will wonder why the section of State Highway 1 through Pukerua Bay does not get similar treatment for the same reason.
Matahorua Gorge is certainly narrow and winding but so is Pukerua Bay. If Matahorua Gorge can be described as heavily trafficked what about SH1 through Pukerua Bay which carries about ten times the number of vehicles, including not only logging trucks but also a large number of other heavy vehicles.
In addition Pukerua Bay is a Wellington suburb. There are several intersecting roads with poor sight lines and it is difficult and dangerous for local residents to join the flow on SH1. The narrow footpaths are used by parents and young children finding their way to school. There have been a number of serious accidents over recent years.
So why does a stretch of road which carries about 2,000 vehicles a day get fixed ahead of one that carries over 20,000 a day through a much busier area?
In the past Transmission Gully enthusiasts have resisted suggestions for a bypass saying that any funds should be kept for the bigger scheme. But TGM is clearly not going to bring relief for 20 years 10 years before a start is made and 10 years to build and on the basis of past experience 20 years is likely to stretch out to 30 or 40. And Pukerua Bay will still carry more traffic than Matahorua even when (and if) TGM is finally completed.
Matahorua Gorge is 4.5 kilometres long. Pukerua Bay is about the same length. On the face of it a by-pass would be a simpler project than Matahorua Gorge and presumably of a similar cost. But even if the cost is considerably higher so are the benefits. The Minister must get the priorities right and put Pukerua Bay on the list of projects of national importance.
