More New Roads Coming in the New National Land Transport Plan 

The Government has announced a $32.9 billion New National Land Transport Plan for 2024- 2027. 

Transport minister Brown says it prioritises safety, value for money, economic growth and productivity. 

It includes $5.5 billion for pothole prevention and $7 billion for state highway improvements.  Public transport services and infrastructure investment will be increased from $4.9 billion to $6.4 billion in this new plan. Some, like our old mate Arnold Difflock, will be pleased that money for walking and cycling has been halved. The previous plan allocated $1 billion for such projects, but that new budget is just $460 million. Rail gets $1 billion. 

But the thrust of the new plan is to build new roads; where previously $6.6 billion was set aside in the old plane, this new directive has $8.3 billion in the budget for new roadds. 

Auckland gets $8.4 billion and the plan promises to deliver four new roads of national significance in the area. 

Brown said in a statement; “Aucklanders rejected the previous government’s transport policies which resulted in non-delivery, phantom projects, slower speed limits, and an infestation of speed bumps. The Government is turning this around with record investment in transport projects that reduce travel times, improve public transport options, and build and maintain our roading network to the safe and reliable standard Aucklanders expect.  

“Auckland has a growing population, and it is critical we continue to invest in transport infrastructure which enables people and freight to easily move around our region. Our Government is committed to making sure that every transport dollar is spent wisely on the projects and services that Aucklanders need. Public transport needs to be reliable, and roads need to be built and maintained to a high standard.”  

Brown also states that the National Land Transport Programme will deliver a significant pipeline of transport infrastructure for Auckland to reduce congestion and enable Aucklanders to get to where they want to go, quickly and safely. 

 The plan for Auckland includes 

• Completing and opening the City Rail Link in 2026, doubling the capacity of the Auckland rail network.  
• Prioritising three Roads of National Significance (RoNS) – SH1 Warkworth to Wellsford, Mill Road, and the East-West Link. An additional North West Alternative State Highway (SH16) is planned for Auckland and will be progressed in the 2027-30 period.  
• Three Roads of Regional Significance will be progressed – SH1 Papakura to Drury, Penlink, and work will start on Waihoehoe Road upgrade. 
• Planning for an additional Waitematā harbour connection will continue.  
• Reeves Road Flyover will be completed alongside further work on completion of the Eastern Busway.  
• Speeding up Auckland’s local roads with investment in dynamic lanes, reversing Labour’s blanket speed limit reductions, and providing funding to Auckland Transport to remove speed bumps on high volume roads. 
• Fixing and preventing potholes on state highways and local roads including resealing and rehabilitation works on 393 kilometres of state highways to prevent potholes from forming in the first place.  

• Continued planning for the Northwest Rapid Transport Corridor.