Four-lane Hawke's Bay Expressway set to become a reality, NZ Transport Agency to work through detail by September
Construction of a four-lane Hawke’s Bay Expressway, promised by both National and Labour before the last election, could begin this election term.
The Expressway is expected to become four lanes from Pakowhai Road, Links Road to the Meeanee Road off-ramp.
Napier MP Katie Nimon told Hawke’s Bay App that the Hawke’s Bay Expressway had been listed in the draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Transport as a Road of National Significance.
“The expectation from the Minister [of Transport Simeon Brown] is that those six roads are started in this next three-year cycle.”
Hawke’s Bay App asked NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi what the timeline was for the Expressway to become four lanes.
A spokesperson said: “That detail will be worked through as part of the development of the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP), after the draft GPS is finalised. The NLTP will be finalised and adopted by September this year.”
Nimon said that a four-lane Expressway was important because it was “all about economic productivity first and foremost”.
“It's also about connecting health, it's about connecting education. We saw that during the cyclone.”
“I don't think anyone can question how important that road is as a key connector for our area. I talk to restaurants who, during that time after the cyclone in Napier, had their business absolutely gutted, because people weren't coming over from Hastings to go out for dinner.”
“It's always something that's been indicated that was long-term intended to be four-lane, and we're the government that's going to make it happen.”
