Woodend Bypass promises cheer Waimakariri Mayor

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from Northern Outlook

By David Hill, local democracy reporter

The prospect of work beginning on the Woodend Bypass during the next Parliamentary term is welcome news, says Waimakariri mayor Dan Gordon.

The Labour government announced plans last week to build the Woodend Bypass by 2030.

This followed National’s announcement it remained committed to building the bypass, if elected in October’s general election.

‘"The community has been calling out for this promised infrastructure to be delivered and for concrete timeframes for construction to start,"Gordon said.

"For both major parties to identify this as a priority project is great news."

The Woodend Bypass has been in the pipeline for decades.

The existing stretch of State Highway 1 is one of the most dangerous roads in Canterbury, with nine fatal and 33 serious crashes between 2000 and 2018.

National promised to build the bypass in the lead up to the 2017 general election, but a change in government priorities has seen it languishing as an "horizon project" in the National Land Transport Plan.

Associate Transport Minister Kieran McAnulty announced a series of safety improvements last year in bid to alleviate community concerns, while residents waited for the bypass to be built.

North Canterbury-based Labour List MP Dan Rosewarne said the bypass would now be brought forward in the 2024-27 National Land Transport Plan.

The Christchurch Northern Link will be upgraded from Waimakariri River to Ashley River, including the proposed alignment to the east of the Woodend township.

"I would like to see on the ground work get under way next year, but the 2026-27 financial year is more realistic," Rosewarne said.

"For a lot of projects around the country, the design work and planning has still got to be done, but with Woodend the design is almost complete and the land is already consented."

Work is expected to be completed by 2030.

National announced last month that construction of the Woodend Bypass would begin during its first term of government, as part of its Transport for the Future plan.

Waimakariri MP and National’s Associate Transport Spokesperson, Matt Doocey, said Labour’s announcement was "cynical at best".

"Labour were the ones who cancelled this vital roading project, leaving the Woodend community split in two by increasingly dangerous traffic levels year on year.

"Now they want that same community to believe they have their interests at heart."

National has said it would commit $270 million to project, but Rosewarne said the costs were likely to be higher, with labour shortages and compliance costs likely to drive up costs.

Transport Minister David Parker released the 2024 draft Government Policy Statement on Transport last week, announcing the government would increase its investment to $5.4 billion for road maintenance and $3.8b for road improvements over the next three years.

A further $3.6b was earmarked for public transport.

The increased investment would be funded through increasing petrol tax by 4 cents a litre per year from next year.

While the prospect of an increase in petrol tax may not be welcomed news, the Reserve Bank was predicting inflation to drop to 2.7% by the middle of next year, which should reduce the burden, Rosewarne said.

National has indicated its roading policy would be funded through a variety of sources, including toll roads, equity financing from entities like the Super Fund and KiwiSaver funds, and foreign investment.

■ Public interest journalism funded through New Zealand on Air.