Chapter F10 Other road-related funding policies

F10.8 State highway/local road connections

Introduction

This section sets out cost responsibility for road work that involves both state highways and local roads.

State highway and motorway boundaries should be located in such a manner that boundaries of responsibility are clear and practical for all aspects, including designation, construction, renewal, maintenance and control.

Note: A delegation or agreement is required for any work within the state highway reserve that is to be charged as a local road.

Policy principles

Cost responsibilities for roading infrastructure should be based on the following underlying principles:

• be in accordance with the provisions of the Land Transport Management Act 2003 (LTMA)
• reflect the relative benefits to users of the state highway and local road networks
• recognise that the sector initiating the work should have the primary responsibility for the cost
• be compatible with the responsibility for control of the assets involved.

The application of these principles to specific situations is set out below. Some connections may be complex and cover a number of these specific situations. Cost responsibilities for these situations should be negotiated.

For situations not covered below, cost responsibilities should be negotiated on a case-by-case basis according to the principles and priority order listed above.

Negotiations are to involve the NZTA and the respective territorial authority.

New state highway projects with connections to existing roads

Where a new state highway project is constructed with connections to existing local roads, all work within the final state highway reserve, including overbridges, underpasses and interchange ramps, is a state highway charge. This does not apply to work of a higher standard than (or in addition to) the work required by the state highway.

The NZTA may agree that the cost of new connections to local roads, outside of the state highway reserve, may also be a state highway charge.

All other work is eligible for funding assistance in the local authority programme.

Note: The cost of upgrading local roads as a consequence of the new connections is a local road charge.

New state highway crossing existing local road without connections

Where a new state highway project is constructed across an existing local road without connections between the roads, all work, including any work to adjust the local road, is a state highway charge. This does not apply to work of a higher standard than (or in addition to) the work required by the state highway.

All other work is eligible for funding assistance in the local authority programme.

New local road connecting to existing state highway

Where a new local road, including private developmental roading, is connected to a state highway, construction of the local road including any overpass or underpass is a local road charge.

The cost of any access ramps is a state highway charge, except where the primary purpose of the new connection is to provide access to a private facility, in which case the owner of that facility shall meet the full ramp costs.

Where there is no clear distinction between the ramps and the bridge structures, eg at a directional interchange, the ramp/bridge costs are to be shared according to the proportion of ramp to bridge costs for an equivalent standard interchange with the same number of ramps as the standard interchange.

Any associated state highway upgrading needed to cater for local traffic that is effectively crossing the motorway, such as the provision of auxiliary motorway lanes, is to be a local road charge. This is because provision for traffic crossing the state highway is deemed to be a function of the local road network.

Local road crossing an existing state highway without connections

Where a new local road is constructed across a state highway without connections to the state highway, no costs are to be a state highway charge.

The work is eligible for funding assistance in the local authority programme.

Upgrade of an existing state highway/local road intersection

Where an existing intersection between a state highway and a local road is upgraded, reconstructed or relocated, all work within the state highway reserve is a state highway charge.

Any realignment or upgrading of the local road that is necessitated by the project will also be a state highway charge. The NZTA will, however, require a local road contribution for any work that exceeds the minimum level of upgrading necessary to the project.

State highway intersecting with unsealed local road

Where construction work is undertaken on a state highway and an intersection with an unsealed local road is involved, the unsealed side road approach to the state highway must be sealed. The work is to be a full charge to the state highway project.

Agreement of the territorial authority must be obtained. When agreeing the distance to be sealed, the following safety benefits must be considered:

• providing traction for approaching traffic
• permitting pavement marking on the side road approach relevant to the intersection traffic control
• reduction of the hazard due to gravel migrating onto the state highway.

Maintenance of local roads intersecting at grade with state highways

The maintenance of the carriageway of a local road, intersecting at grade with a state highway, for a distance of 10 metres from the limit line position or to the end of seal, whichever is the lesser, shall be a state highway charge.

This maintenance includes:

• pavement maintenance
• maintenance of regulatory signs associated with the intersection
• maintenance of pavement marking related to traffic control of the intersection where these are appropriate
• maintenance of raised traffic islands related to the traffic control of the intersection.