Releases

Budget 2017 will invest $548 million of new capital funding to maintain and upgrade New Zealand’s rail network, supporting freight movement, exporters, tourism and public transport, Transport Minister Simon Bridges says. $450 million of that funding will be invested in KiwiRail over the next two financial years. “KiwiRail has achieved significant productivity and efficiency improvements over the past two years, despite the challenges of the November 2016 earthquake and the Midland Line fire,” Mr Bridges says. ...

Transport Minister Simon Bridges today announced work is set to begin on a multi-million dollar fire deluge system that will improve safety and reduce the risk of lengthy closures at Lyttelton Tunnel. “In addition to improving safety, the project will also increase the resilience of a route that is an economic lifeline for Christchurch, Canterbury and the South Island,” Mr Bridges says. ...

Transport Minister Simon Bridges today marked the halfway point for the Government’s $333 million Urban Cycleways Programme (UCP) with the completion of a section on the Little River Link cycleway. “The UCP is making a real difference to cycling in the regions all around New Zealand, and today’s opening is just another example of this successful programme,” Mr Bridges says. “The opening of the Barrington to Moorhouse section of the Little River Link cycleway in Christchurch marks the halfway point for the Governments $333 million UCP. ...

Transport Minister Simon Bridges today marked the commencement of the final stage of the Baypark to Bayfair project to build two flyovers. The $120 million project will connect to the Tauranga Eastern Link (TEL), completing the Eastern Corridor for the Bay of Plenty. “The flyovers will reduce congestion, improve journey times and provide for a safer, more resilient connection for both local and state highway users,” Mr Bridges says. ...

Transport Minister Simon Bridges says a new lane along a section of Auckland’s Southern Motorway will help ease bottlenecks and improve journeys for thousands of motorists. The additional southbound lane has now been opened to traffic between Hill Road and the Takanini interchange, and between the Takanini southbound on-ramp to the Pahurehure Inlet as part of the Southern Corridor Improvements project. ...