Fix State Highway One now - ACT

Heather Roy Wednesday, 1 June 2005 Press Releases - Transport

A decision on whether Transmission Gully should be built is long overdue, Wellington-based ACT MP Heather Roy said today.

“Every party but ACT has sat on its hands over this issue. We have consistently said that State Highway One, north of Wellington, is a national disgrace and must be upgraded urgently,” Mrs Roy said. “The Wellington region suffers from a severe infrastructure deficit that is hurting both the Wellington and Kapiti Coast economies”.

“The time for political apathy is over. A decision on whether Transmission Gully is the best option to solve Wellington’s roading problems must be made now.

“ACT supports an immediate geotechnical and engineering assessment of the Transmission Gully proposal, followed closely by an authoritative, independent, comprehensive and definitive report on all the costs and benefits of building the motorway.

“It’s unacceptable that Wellingtonians are still waiting for a decision after all these years. The region needs political action, not political apathy. It’s outrageous that this serious roading problem is being ignored in a region that has the political representation of four Cabinet Ministers, two Labour backbenchers and the leader of a Labour-supporting party.

“Today United Future Leader Peter Dunne said he supports Transmission Gully. If that’s the case, why didn’t he use it as his bargaining chip, rather than the ineffective Families Commission, when negotiating his party’s support for the Government?

“The time for political procrastination is over. Wellingtonians have paid their taxes and have every right to ask where the roads are. A decision on Transmission Gully must be made now,” Mrs Roy said.

Wellington-based ACT MPs Heather Roy and Stephen Franks will be releasing their party’s policy on fixing Wellington’s roading problems on Friday.

ENDS

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