The Petone to Grenada Link Road Project was re-evaluated in 2018. As a result, the project will be redesigned to focus on improving resilience, safety and transport choice for east-west journeys between Porirua/northern Wellington and the Hutt Valley.
In 2018 the Transport Agency re-evaluated the proposed Petone to Grenada link road project. That re-evaluation found that the need for improved east-west connections generally aligns with the Government’s priorities, as set out in the 2018 Government Policy Statement on land transport, but that the Petone to Grenada link road in its proposed form may not proceed.
The re-evaluation recommended that construction of an east-west connection be considered for funding from 2028.
The re-evaluation report recommends that the Transport Agency further investigates how best to improve resilience, safety, and east-west transport choice. This will mean taking a step back and ensuring other east-west options across the state highway network (the triangle formed by SH1, SH2 and SH58) are considered. The timing of this work will depend on funding availability and other nationwide funding priorities.
Feedback from the community, including potentially affected landowners, received during previous consultations on options for this area will be considered when work commences.
Whatever form the project takes in future, it will be required to support the goals of improving resilience, safety and transport choice and will also be required to provide value for money, and to minimise adverse impacts on the environment.
The re-evaluation identified that the short-term priority should focus on improving the resilience of the existing network. This could include measures such as stabilising slopes that border state highways and improving drainage.
Short-term work could also consider whether to extend the existing ‘Managed Motorway’ (smart motorway) concept to include more of SH1 and SH2.
The timing of this work will depend on funding availability and other nationwide funding priorities.
Depending on funding availability, in the long term, we will develop and select a package of east-west transport improvements that will seek to increase the resilience of Wellington’s transport network, increase safety for all users, and improve transport choice for east-west journeys (between the Hutt Valley and Porirua/northern Wellington). We will also be mindful how such a connection will support local urban and employment growth patterns.
We will be taking the whole of the Ngauranga Triangle (the triangle formed by SH1, SH2 and SH58) in to account when considering the best long-term option for east-west journeys. A link road option will be considered alongside other east-west improvements within the Ngauranga Triangle.
Right now, funding is not available to progress work on this project. When funding is available, we will continue with investigation and business case work to progress the short-term resilience improvements and long-term resilience, safety and transport choice improvements.
