7. Question No. 7—TransportCHRIS BISHOP (National—Hutt South) to the Associate Minister of TransportQuestion No. 7—Transport7. CHRIS BISHOP (National—Hutt South) to the Associate Minister of Transport: Is it correct that despite being previously funded two roundabouts on State Highway 58 in Porirua won't be built until more money becomes available which means they won't make their planned 2020 completion date" as reported by Stuff on 21 May 2019 and is she concerned that these safety upgrades have been delayed on what NZTA has described as "Wellington region's most dangerous road"?Hon JAMES SHAW (Minister for Climate Change) on behalf of the Associate Minister of Transport: On behalf of the Minister I'm advised that funding for the State Highway 58 programme including the two roundabouts that Mr Bishop refers to was set aside in late 2017 based on early estimates. Subsequent analysis showed that the project would cost more than first estimated and it was split into two stages. In the next few months work will begin on the stage one safety upgrades. This will include extending median barriers installing side barriers in high-risk spots adding an uphill crawler lane and adding sealed shoulders. I'm advised that the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) has approved funding to progress preparatory work for stage two upgrades. This includes funding to progress land acquisitions and consenting for work on the two roundabouts. NZTA will consider funding for the two roundabouts once Transmission Gully has been completed simply because starting earlier would create disruption on the roads. This is just one component of the Government's $1.4 billion road safety programme that will upgrade over 3300 kilometres of State highways by 2021.Chris Bishop: Why have these safety improvements been delayed when there have been four accidents on State Highway 58 in the last week alone including this morning?Hon JAMES SHAW: As I said in response to the primary question there was funding for the entire State Highway 58 programme allocated based on earlier estimates but subsequent analysis showed that the project would cost more than first estimated and it was split into two stages. Therefore in the next few months work will begin on the stage one safety upgrades. That includes the median barriers installing side barriers in high-risk spots adding an uphill crawler lane and adding sealed shoulders. Having done that work and once Transmission Gully has been completed work will begin on stage two.Chris Bishop: Will phase two of the safety improvements to State Highway 58 be in place by the time Transmission Gully opens?Hon JAMES SHAW: As I said in response to the primary question NZTA will consider funding for the two roundabouts that Mr Bishop refers to once Transmissions Gully has been completed simply because [Interruption] starting earlier would create disruption on the roads.SPEAKER: Order! I'm going to ask the member to repeat it. Some of us have quite a lot of interest in this and interjecting on these safety matters I think shows a bit of lack of taste.Hon JAMES SHAW: As I said in response to the primary question NZTA will consider funding for the two roundabouts once Transmission Gully has been completed simply because starting earlier would create additional disruption on the roads.Chris Bishop: Is she concerned that deaths and serious injuries on State Highway 58 could nearly double once Transmission Gully opens according to the AA and why has the Government not prioritised these safety upgrades earlier to make sure they're in place by the time Transmission Gully opens?Hon JAMES SHAW: Well as I said under the previous Government there was an initial estimate of the amount of funding it would take to do the safety upgrades. Subsequent analysis under the current Government showed that it was going to be more expensive than the early initial estimates and that's why the programme was broken into two halves. We're extremely concerned about road safety particularly on State Highway 58. That's why this Government has created a $1.4 billion road safety programme to upgrade 3300 kilometres of roads around New Zealand by 2021.Chris Bishop: Why is she using funding constraints as an excuse when she is happy to trumpet in the House and around the country that the Government is making road safety a priority and that they're spending $1.4 billion on road safety?Hon JAMES SHAW: Quite simply because the previous Government didn't put enough money into this project.Chris Bishop: What changed between March 2018 when the NZTA said "it's a priority for the Agency to make significant safety improvements as soon as possible" and May 2019 when the NZTA confirmed that these much-needed safety improvements would not be in place?Hon JAMES SHAW: As I said in response to the primary question subsequent analysis on the package that was put together in late 2017 showed that the overall State Highway 58 programme was going to be more expensive than initially indicated and therefore it was split into two halves. I know that the member is extremely familiar with the process of project planning and budgeting for highway projects including road safety projects. The process was followed and each part of that project has to go through its own business case."