Draft GPS 2024 – Strategic Investment Programme

Strategic Investment Programme – Project Descriptions
The draft GPS 2024 sets out a series of projects that are strategically important for thedevelopment of New Zealand’s transport system in the coming decades.
The Strategic Investment Programme includes:
 Warkworth to Whangārei – State Highway 1, including:o Te Hana to Brynderwyns
o Warkworth to Wellsfordo Whangārei to Brynderwyns
 Auckland Northwest Rapid Transit
 Auckland rail third and fourth Mains Expansion
 Avondale to Onehunga rail link
 Auckland and Wellington Metropolitan Level Crossing Upgrade and Removal Programme Cambridge to Piarere – State Highway 1
 Tauranga to Tauriko – State Highway 29
 Wellington CBD to Airport – State Highway 1 – Second Mount Victoria Tunnel andUpgrades to Basin Reserve/Arras Tunnel
 Wellington CBD to Island Bay – Mass Rapid Transit Napier to Hastings – State Highway 2
 Christchurch Northern Link – State Highway 1
 Nelson – Hope Bypass – State Highway 6
 Nelson (Rocks Road) shared path – State Highway 6
 Ashburton Bridge – State Highway 1The Waka Kotahi Board ultimately have the power to approve projects funded from the National
Land Transport Fund. By highlighting these projects, the Government expects that their strategic
importance will be given particular consideration during the development of the National Land
Transport Plan.
The projects are described in more detail in this document.

Draft GPS 2024 – Strategic Investment Programme

Warkworth to Whangārei – State Highway 1
This project relates to upgrades on State Highway 1 between Auckland and Whangarei, including: Te Hana (north of Wellsford) to Brynderwyns – safety and resilience improvements tothe existing route south of the Brynderwyns and a western bypass around the hills.
 Warkworth to Wellsford (Dome Valley) – New 26km motorway Whangārei to Brynderwyns – Upgraded 22km four-lane motorway and shared path
between Whangārei and SH15
A series of upgrades along this corridor could strengthen Northland’s links with Auckland, save
lives and provide greater network resilience to support a growing population, tourism andeconomic growth. This will help to prevent costly closures arising from bad weather and crashes.
More reliable journeys and greater travel choice with new public transport, walking and cycling
facilities will also provide a more sustainable transport system and strengthen key regional freightlinks.
Note that short-term resilience improvements will be considered through the Cyclone recovery
work for SH1 Brynderwyns including local road detours: SH12 and 14 - The state highway alternate route is via SH12/14 Mangatapere, Dargaville,
Maungarutoro (additional 1 hour) and numerous townships.
 Oakleigh/Mangapai to Paparoa (local road) - To the west this route runs between
Mangapai and Paparoa where it exits on SH12. It adds an additional 30 minutes to thejourney, has six one lane bridges and travels through rural and small communities.
 Waipu to Kaiwaka (local road) - To the east, Cove Road provides access via Langs
Beach, Mangawhai, Kaiwaka where it exits onto SH1. It adds an additional 35 minutes tothe journey and has a high density of populations, townships, and tourist destinations. Thisroute has two one lane bridges and is not suitable for long vehicles due to a hairpin.

Draft GPS 2024 – Strategic Investment ProgrammeDraft GPS 2024 – Strategic Investment Programme

Auckland Northwest Rapid Transit
Transformation of the Auckland’s land transport system is critical to manage growth and support
the economy. The Northwest of the city is a high growth area, where the acceleration of routeprotection, designation and property acquisition is essential to improving long-term access andtravel choice. A rapid public transport corridor from the city centre to Brigham Creek would
support emissions reduction from this highly car-dependent area of the city.
A detailed business case is underway to plan what is needed to accelerate work on this corridor,
which could include staging early delivery of rapid transit stations during the next three years (202427). The funding provided through the draft GPS 2024 could enable Waka Kotahi to accelerate
work to finalise the preferred solution, progress consenting and designation, and start early works.
Construction of a full rapid transit connection from Brigham Creek to the central city along thecorridor would take at least 10 years to complete, depending on mode, but the intention from Waka
Kotahi is to deliver it in stages starting with a focus on the City Centre to Westgate.

Draft GPS 2024 – Strategic Investment Programme

Auckland 3rd and 4th Main Rail Lines
The New Zealand Upgrade Programme is currently funding the build of about 8km of 3rd Main Linein South Auckland between Westfield and Wiri Junctions (north of Puhinui to south of Middlemore).
This will alleviate existing congestion in the busiest part of the Auckland Metro Network and help
separate commuter from freight services.
The funding made available via the GPS could allow KiwiRail to undertake detailed engineering
design, construction methodology as the start of a project to build a 4th Main between Westfieldand Wiri and both 3rd and 4th Mains about 30km to Pukekohe. This is about future proofing rail in
Auckland to cater for the commuter and freight growth to come.
The southern part of Auckland is an important part of the largest freight movement area in New
Zealand (Golden Triangle: Auckland – Hamilton – Tauranga). The 3rd Main extension and 4thMain are expected to be needed in the 2030s to ensure the reliability of increasing passenger(metro and inter-regional) and freight rail services in the Auckland metro area. They will also help
enable more trains to run between Port of Tauranga and Auckland, supporting mode shift from ourhighways to rail and reducing transport emissions.
The 3rd Main extension and 4th Main allows the maximum commuter service frequency enabledby the City Rail Link, over time. They would also allow more inter-regional services (such as TeHuia) to operate. It is a first step in a much larger project to shift more people/freight onto rail andreduce our transport emissions over the next decade. An estimated 6 million tonnes of freightmoves in and out of the Auckland network each year and that avoids more than 400,000 long
distance heavy truck trips.
Improvements and upgrades to Auckland’s rail network are important to improve passenger andinter-regional freight services. With additional lines, rail will play a greater role in supporting urban
and economic growth, improving access and helping reduce emissions. Design work will start assoon as funding is approved and may take three years to complete.

Avondale to Onehunga Rail Link
KiwiRail has owned a corridor of land between Avondale, through Onehunga to its major freightcontainer terminal in Southdown since the 1940s. The corridor is already designated for rail use.
The funding signaled in the GPS could allow detailed engineering design to be undertaken as afirst step in eventually building a rail line between Avondale-Southdown for both passenger andfreight trains.
The Avondale - Onehunga Link would provide significant metro commuter service and connectivity
improvements for Aucklanders. The potential to run East-West commuter services on the Avondale- Onehunga Link, would establish a true metropolitan passenger network for Auckland with an
inner loop (CRL) and an outer loop (centre to west, west to south, south to east, east to centre).
Another key benefit of the line is that it would help remove rail freight from the centre of theAuckland metro network, creating more space for commuter services, while also significantly
improving efficiency for freight and logistics, and resilience right across the network. For example,
freight services from the north currently have to travel through Newmarket, the busiest commuterjunction in Auckland where Southern and Western Line services meet.

Draft GPS 2024 – Strategic Investment Programme
It is expected, given increasing passenger and freight volumes that the Avondale - Onehunga
Link will be needed by the 2040s. If Ports of Auckland were to be closed or curtailed it could beneeded earlier.
Increased capacity on Auckland’s rail network has the potential to carry greater volumes of freightand support additional passenger services, reducing congestion on the roading network, improving
safety, and helping to reduce emissions. Work on the engineering design for the Avondale –Onehunga will start as soon as funding is approved and may take three years to complete.

Rail Level Crossing Removal Programme
To enable long-term commuter service growth in both Auckland and Wellington level crossingsneed to be removed. In the Auckland metro area, over time all level crossings need to be removed
to enable the maximum capacity from the City Rail Link. To grow Wellington metro commuter
service frequency, some level crossings will likely need to be removed over time.
The funding made available in the GPS could allow KiwiRail to identify the relevant level crossings,
undertake engineering design for road/rail changes and traffic modelling as the start of a project toremove level crossings. Options could include some grade separation through over and underpasses, or outright closure. KiwiRail expect a 30-year timeframe for removing level crossings.
Removing level crossings improves the safety of both the road and rail networks, allows more
frequent trains and, particularly with grade separation, improves the efficiency of the road networkwith vehicles not having to stop at barrier arms when trains pass. It benefits both commuters anddrivers.

Draft GPS 2024 – Strategic Investment ProgrammeDraft GPS 2024 – Strategic Investment Programme

Cambridge to Piarere – State Highway 1This section of SH1 is part of the country’s most important transport corridor, between AucklandHamilton-Tauranga, which carries a significant proportion of all road freight in Aotearoa.
Improving safety, resilience and access is important to get to market and grow our economy andto make it safer for travel by a growing number of visitors and residents.
This work would include building safer and more reliable access along the corridor with additionallanes to link the Waikato Expressway with the intersection of State Highway 1 and State
Highway 29. Work on this corridor could start as early as 2024, construction could get underway
in 2026 and would take at least five years to complete.

Draft GPS 2024 – Strategic Investment Programme

Tauranga to Tauriko – State Highway 29
Tauriko is a significant growth area in the Bay of Plenty where route protection is crucial. This will
ensure the community that develops is well-connected to the neighbouring areas and Tauranga,
and there is efficient and reliable inter-regional freight access to the port. The area needs toprovide choice in how people want to travel, protect strategic freight routes, improve safety, andachieve better resilience and environmental outcomes.
This work could include a staged delivery of a new or upgraded corridor along State Highway 29 toimprove access, including public transport prioritisation lanes. As per the recently completed
detailed business case, the works are proposed to be completed in multiple stages: replacementof the Omanawa Bridge, the upgrading of parts of SH29A to improve public transport prioritization,
and a new highway along SH29. The funding provided through the draft GPS 2024 could enable
consenting for the larger parts of the project/enabling works for better public transport, as well as
the work to start on the replacement of the Omanawa Bridge to take place over the next 3 years(2024-27).

Draft GPS 2024 – Strategic Investment Programme

Second Mt. Victoria Tunnel and Upgrades to Basin Reserve andArras Tunnel – State Highway 1
The Government is committed to kick-starting work on long-delayed transport solutions for thecity. Local authorities agree that the Government should take the lead on projects on the state
highway network.
Reshaping how we travel in our capital city is vital to enable growth, get more people using avariety of travel choices and to help reduce emissions. With the potential for significant residential
growth to the east and south of Wellington, a range of improvements to build network capacity
and travel choice, making getting about the city easier, more accessible and reliable.
This work would include improvements to the state highway and local road network, along with asecond Mt Victoria Tunnel. A detailed business case is currently being progressed for this work.
The funding made available in the GPS could enable early works to begin in 2026/27, with main
construction works getting underway in 2027/28.

Mass Rapid Transit (Wellington CBD to Island Bay)
Growth in Wellington needs to be supported through the delivery of new and state-of-the-art
public transport options that are safe, efficient and reliable, powered by renewable energy
sources. This supports the city to reduce emissions, provide sustainable travel choices andensure better connections to essential services.
The detailed business case is considering two routes to help manage growth and urban
development: to the south – from the Wellington Railway Station past the Wellington Regional
Hospital and on to Island Bay, and to the east – from the Basin Reserve through Mt Victoria, onto Miramar and the airport.
The funding made available in the draft GPS 2024 could enable consenting, property purchase,and final design work to be completed before works commence during the next GPS period (202730).

Draft GPS 2024 – Strategic Investment ProgrammeDraft GPS 2024 – Strategic Investment Programme

Napier to Hastings – State Highway 2
The Hawke’s Bay relies on the roading network between Napier to Hastings to support theregion’s economic growth. Capacity improvements along the corridor will boost resilience,
productivity and efficiency of the network, as well as connections between the two cities. Thiswork would include building resilience along SH2 expressway from Omahu Road to TaradaleRoad and upgrading existing bridges and associated intersections.
Additional capacity would support freight and prioritise public transport between Hastings andNapier. Main construction works could start in the next GPS period (around 2027) and would
take five years to complete.

Draft GPS 2024 – Strategic Investment Programme

Nelson (Rocks Road) shared path – State Highway 6
Safer, more resilient travel choices on State Highway 6 along the waterfront with a new sharedwalking and cycling path would better connect the communities of Nelson and Richmond. Withbetter travel choices, the city can reduce emissions and develop a more sustainable and resilienttransport system. This work would include separated and enhanced walking and cycling facilities.
Construction work could start as early as 2028 and would take around five years to complete.

Draft GPS 2024 – Strategic Investment Programme

Richmond – Hope Bypass – State Highway 6
The Richmond Programme Business Case (PBC) was endorsed by Waka Kotahi and Tasman
District Council in 2021. This work identified an emerging programme of transport options that
could be delivered over the short, medium and long-term out to the year 2050. Waka Kotahi andTasman District Council are currently undertaking short-term improvements to the road network,including: Cycle lanes along key routes, Priority lanes for freight and public transport, targetedsafety upgrades for pedestrians and cyclists.
A bypass would deliver significant travel time benefits for through traffic, and as a result would
reduce the level of rat-running on local streets. The bypass would strongly support the desired
safety and liveability objectives for the project, and these outcomes potentially may not bedelivered unless the Hope Bypass is introduced.
Significant housing growth will also generate significantly more vehicle trips, and regardless of how
much active mode infrastructure is provided, the majority of new trips would still be car-based. The
funding provided in the draft GPS could enable further design work and consenting to progressover the next 3 years (2024-27).

Draft GPS 2024 – Strategic Investment Programme

Christchurch Northern Link – State Highway 1 (Woodend Bypass)Upgrading State Highway 1 from the Waimakariri River to Ashley River, including a new alignmentaround Woodend, will improve safety, provide for more reliable journeys, support regional growthand greater accessibility for Woodend and Pegasus. This work could include additional lanes on
SH1 from Lineside Road to Cam River and a new bypass alignment around Woodend andpotential widening for the Ashley River Bridge. The funding made available in the GPS could
enable further detailed design and work could start as early as 2026/27. Construction is expected
to take three years to complete.

Draft GPS 2024 – Strategic Investment Programme

Ashburton Bridge – State Highway 1
Greater resilience for the South Island’s main freight route along State Highway 1 would beboosted and connectivity strengthened with improvements to links across the Hakatere/AshburtonRiver. Additional benefits would be improved travel choice options.
Improvements along the corridor could include a new second river crossing providing improved
pedestrian and cycling access. A second bridge alone would not resolve resilience issues, thiswould require a replacement of the SH1 bridge. Work could start in 2024/25 for pre-implementationand property purchase for a second bridge, with construction starting in 2026/27 and taking twoyears to complete.

Draft GPS 2024 – Strategic Investment ProgrammeCorridor Studies ($25m)
In addition to the projects above the GPS also makes $25m available for Waka Kotahi to look atupgrades to other key corridors for future investments, including:

SH2 Melling to Upper Hutt
The transport link between Te Marua and Ngauranga is congested, unsafe and lacks resilience.
A 2017 corridor business study focusing on the wider corridor between Te Marua and Ngauranga
identified a potential four-lane from Silverstream to Upper Hutt and/or grade separated
intersections for safety, resilience and economic outcomes. This study identified the work neededon Melling which is being progressed through NZUP, and the refresh will look at any remainingparts.

Draft GPS 2024 – Strategic Investment Programme
SH29 Piarere to Tauranga
SH29 is the preferred route for road-based freight between Tauranga and Auckland. SH29 has alow safety record, poor resilience and a higher cost of travel due to the gradients over the Kaimai
Range. The 2017 corridor business case included operational and capital improvements whichwere safety focused to improve DSIs and improve freight reliability on that route.

Draft GPS 2024 – Strategic Investment Programme
SH1 Piarere to Taupō
The level of service along SH1 between Piarere and Taupō varies significantly and is out ofkeeping with its classification as a national (high volume) highway. The 2017 corridor businesscase included a strategy of operational and capital improvements, including improved emergency
management, maintenance regimes, traveller information and township amenities.

Draft GPS 2024 – Strategic Investment Programme
SH1 Taupō to Desert Road
The journey between Taupō and Waiouru is one of the most variable and least approachable
sections of SH1 and provides an inconsistent level of service. The 2017 recommended
programme aimed to address road user safety and provide a reliable and efficient corridor
commensurate with the route classification and wide range of users.

Draft GPS 2024 – Strategic Investment Programme
SH1 Christchurch to Ashburton
Travel movements between Christchurch and Ashburton have risen significantly, and theChristchurch to Dunedin Corridor Management Plan considered corridor pressures, intervention
triggers and appropriate levels of investment related to safety. Further work is needed to reviewthe corridor to determine what is needed to support safety, resilience and growth.