News from the Porirua City Council
The Porirua City Council wants to hear from the public, landowners, community groups and special interest organisations before deciding on its plans for two new roads linking Whitby and Waitangirua to the Transmission Gully Route.

Background

The Minister of Transport announced in late 2009 that Transmission Gully (TG) will be the future State Highway 1 route and is expected to be substantially complete within ten years. The link roads are an integral part of the Transmission Gully Project.

For further information see the NZ Transport Agency website.

Design Features

The link roads from Transmission Gully to James Cook Drive in Whitby and to Warspite Avenue/ Niagara Street in Waitangirua will be part of the Council network, designed for a 50kph operating speed, with no section steeper than a grade of 1:10. Various routing options were developed and after discussion with landowners the Council has selected preferred routes.

At the Warspite Avenue/Niagara Street intersection, a new roundabout will be required with sufficient land reserved for traffic signals and the possible future extension of Niagara Street as a link to Whitford Brown Avenue.

Where zoning allows future residential development beside the link roads the designation will allow for future footpaths, kerbside parking, entrance splays for residential roads and necessary services.

Benefits and Effects

* The link roads will provide easier, faster access to Wellington, the Hutt and Kapiti Coast.
* The Waitangirua Link will reinforce the role of the Waitangirua Village Centre as a focus for activity in the suburb.
* The Whitby Link will strengthen the roles of James Cook Drive and Navigation Drive.
* There may be noise, dust and runoff effects during construction which will need to be addressed by appropriate conditions of work.
* There may also be landscape effects and possible effect on streams and other water bodies that will require careful management and design. The preferred routes have been selected to minimise the need to cross streams or reduce the impact by crossing high up catchments.
* Where there is existing development beside the new road in Waitangirua consideration will be given to landscaping and noise protection fencing to reduce any effects.

What Happens Next?

The Council will consider all matters raised in submissions and may alter the designs and alignments of the link roads. Further discussions and investigation could be needed on some matters.

A formal hearing of the applications for designation and resource consent for the whole project is expected in early 2011.

Once consents, land and funding are all in place construction can commence. It is intended to build the link roads at the same time as the Transmission Gully route, to realise the best transportation and wider economic benefits of the project.

To give your views on the preferred options, please fill in the council’s feedback form by 19 March 2010.