Newspaper Article 1995 – Motorway talks planned

Motorway talks planned

Public to have say on work

Transit New Zealand is about to start public consultation over extensions to the Napier-Hastings motorway.

The planned $10-million extensions will be discussed at a public meeting on Wednesday at the “Pakowhai Hall at 7.30pm.

Transit New Zealand regional manager Neville Harkness said the meeting would be a chance for neighbouring landowners or occupiers to air any concerns about the impact of the motorway.

He said that although Transit New Zealand had planning approval for the project it wanted to ensure while drawing up the final designs for the road that any concerns were addressed and damage reduced as much as possible.

Mr Harkness said a start on the extensions depended on the availability of funds and Transit’s other roading priorities.

There was no commitment yet to proceed with the motorway and work was unlikely to start before early next year.

Mr Harkness said the public consultation process was expected to finish in June.

Final site and investigations and design will start next month and tender documents should be ready in September.

The 7.7km motorway extension is likely to run north from Taradale Road to the Hawke’s Bay Airport and south from the Allen Road, Pakowhai Road corner through to Omahu Road and possibly south to Maraekakaho Road.

There are two bridge crossings – at the Tutaekuri-Waimate stream and the Ngaruroro River – and stock underpasses on the Chesterhope property.

The road user benefits of the project are estimated at $40-million in reduced travel time and vehicle operating costs and fewer accidents.

The Heretaunga Plains Transportation study completed in 1980 and reviewed in 1986 confirmed the extension of the existing motorway was an integral part of the plains’ roading network.

Since 1993 Transit New Zealand and the plains territorial. Local bodies have done more planning studies.

There have been two interim reports to date and the final report is expected in June.

The final report is expected to recommend the extension of the motorway as a two-lane artery from Pakowhai Road to Omahu Road as an urgent priority.

As part of the final design of the motorway, Transit and the Hastings District Council will study a possible direct link from Orchard Road, ‘Hastings, to the Road intersection with Omahu Road.

Above and below: The proposed motorway route through the Twyford and Pakowhai countryside.