A record $1.9 billion will be invested into the Bay of Plenty region of New Zealand, through its National Land Transport Programme.
The project will include highway upgrades, bridge replacement, road connections and a four-lane highway.
“Transport is a critical enabler for economic growth and productivity in the Bay of Plenty,” said New Zealand Transport Minister, Simeon Brown. “Over the next three years, this investment will deliver critical infrastructure that reduces travel times for motorists and freight travelling to the Port of Tauranga, along with supporting population growth in the rapidly growing Western Bay of Plenty.”
More than $640 million will be invested on maintenance and pothole prevention including resealing and rehabilitation works on 349 kilometres of state highway.
“With parts of the Bay of Plenty vulnerable to severe weather events, the NLTP will deliver resilience improvements to targeted parts of the region’s roading network,” he said. “As part of this, investigations will begin into options to improve resilience along SH2 Awakeri to Ōpōtiki where there are currently limited local road detours. We’re also developing options to strengthen connections on SH2 Waioeka Gorge between the East Coast and the Eastern Bay of Plenty. This project will be prioritised as part of the NLTP’s cyclone rebuild activities.”
In other news, DP World has completed the acquisition of Hong Kong-based Cargo Services Far East Ltd.