MEDIA RELEASE

New Tauranga motorway on top priority list

For immediate release: 19 March, 2009
Environment Bay of Plenty today welcomed government backing of Tauranga’s planned Eastern Motorway, with the route being named a top-seven national roading priority by Transport Minister Steven Joyce.

In its new “Roads of National Significance” list announced today, the government named the proposed route from Te Maunga roundabout to Paengaroa “one of the most essential routes in the country”.

Mr Joyce said the motorway, which appears on the list as the “Tauranga Eastern Corridor”, had been “singled out as crucial to supporting growth in the Bay of Plenty”.

Regional Transport Committee Chairwoman Jane Nees said she was delighted the new government had recognised the importance of the project to the Bay of Plenty economy.

“Port of Tauranga is the largest port in New Zealand and this new motorway is critical to ensure the efficient flow of goods to the port from the rural hinterland,” she said.

“The Tauranga Eastern Motorway will also enable the region to cope with expected major population growth and industrial development in the area it will serve.”

The priority ranking for the motorway was a signal to road funding authority the New Zealand Transport Agency from the government that it should “substantially advance” the seven projects on the list.

Public consultation on the Tauranga Eastern Motorway will be carried out next month as part of Environment Bay of Plenty’s Ten Year Plan process. Another round of consultation will be undertaken by the council before plans are finalised.

Ends

© Scoop Media