Jamie #62

Oh man. Sorry, mate. How could we be so insensitive?

OK everyone, we need to scrap public transport. Apparently Jamie doesn't like it.

This is a Christmas Present worth opening and enjoying for years to come, finally a lot of projects that should have been finished a long time ago, are either completed, in progress or underway are getting off the ground. State Highway Traffic shouldn't be mixing with local traffic, but separated, like they do in the U.S. with the Interstate System, personally I believe that sort of system should be utilised in New Zealand, or at least straighten, widen and reconstruct some of the state highways that haven't been touched yet. That's what it looks like is going on in New Zealand as the years go on. They should also look at extending the expressway/motorway on SH1 even further north, possibly connecting with the SH1 Waikato Expressway in Cambridge in Waikato. The so-called Kapiti Mayor, and those who are going on about this very, vital project, are just anti-development, anti-prosperity, and just about anti-everything. This project is a win-win for everyone, the public, environmentalists, public transport advocates, etc. Once the NZTA gets going on this, their shouldn't be any complaining since every project they have done has put everyone's interests in mind. I believe this project will add to the superiority of our transport and infrastructure system, worldwide. Thanks to the Minister, Government, NZTA, Councils, the Greens, the Kapiti Mayor and the Public for supporting this milestone project for Wellington, Kapiti and all of New Zealand.

Dear everyone talking about the need for better public transport...

I'm going to be honest. I HATE PUBLIC TRANSPORT. I avoid it like the plague (and incidentally, I credit that for me NEVER having caught the flu)

I drive in and out of the Wellington area at least twice a month, and if Transmission Gully helps congestion (PLEASE, SOMEONE FIND A WAY TO AVOID THE ROUNDABOUT IN OTAKI!) then I'm all for it.

$2billion? Who cares. It's funding ten years of jobs as far as I'm concerned. I'd be more than happy to pay a toll/petrol tax for it too.

I really fail to see the benefits that Transmission Gulley will bring to the region, even for the petrol heads that love their cars. In my view given that this road will take more than 10 years to complete, congestion will get even worse during this period while waiting, and people will be left funding this for years to come, how will this benefit the majority of the people in the Wellington Region? If construction was to start within a year we would maybe see the benefits and be completed in less than 3 years instead of waiting 10 years or more. My main point is that public transport needs to be sorted out as well, and a cheaper or a 21st solution to Transmission Gulley needs to be found, maybe not the coastal route. Why can't they just tunnel the road through the mountains like they do in Japan instead of building it over a fault line. That way the road would have less impact on the environment, smaller gradients, less emissions and less noise pollution as well. If the road needs to be built it should be done properly not with methods from the 20th century.

Transmission Gulley proposed in it's current state is a shambles an expensive bypass for the region. It will cost over $1b along and that is not including the entire North-West corridor.

Andy #34 - that fuel tax was for the electrification project of their railways

But just think of the kind of rail infrastructure that $2 Billion could build! Such an investment would see the Wellington region prosper in the world of 2020 where oil is scarcer and carbon dioxide cannot be freely released into the atmosphere, and would scale as necessary to allow for future population growth.

This is short-sighted.

As someone who lives in Mana and has to get onto SH1 whether walking with the kids and dog, or driving, traffic lights sure are needed now it is four lanes (transit lanes yeah) - I hope those who drive through red lights and over the speed limit use transmission gully. Sorry for be an inconvenience to you, we just happen to live there - sorry. Hope you don't kill us, then you might be sorry.

Took them a while. Good on you Steven Joyce and to all those who say we shouldn't be building more roads have you guys heard of electric/hybrid cars. Do you realise that car manafacturers are developing cars that run on alternative fuel sources?? Yes they are still in development but they're not going to be flying anytime soon so thats why we still need to build roads

The toll idea is fine at first sight, but it will most likely only cover a timy proportion of its true cost, both to build and maintain, with the rest of us poor taxpayers footing the bill for the rest of our lives for a relatively limited number of privileged motorists and landowners that live out of Wellington that could just as easilly use the new trains that are being introduced. It exacerbates an uncompetitive situation where roads are funded to a greater degree than public transport, which is now being called upon to reduce its reliance on government funds.

We need to take a deep breath and step back from what is nothing more than a massive white elephant - Transmission Folly! What are the vested interests here? At a time where we should be using public funds wisely and with restraint, this Wellephant just does not compute!!! FAIL!!!

Great, just get on with it and stop paying for more consultants to give us another result. I am very worried about time frame as a little road widening (2 kms) at Pekapeka has taken about 2 years, not a good for Transit.