Source: New Zealand Transport Agency
Proposed tolling for Canterbury’s new Belfast to Pegasus Motorway and Woodend Bypass (B2P) strikes a balance between helping pay for much-needed infrastructure and minimising impacts on local communities, says New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA).
When built, the B2P project – one of the Roads of National Significance prioritised by the Government – will provide a 10km four-lane motorway extension north of Christchurch and a bypass that reduces the heavy traffic burden on State Highway 1 through the town of Woodend. The tolling proposal would see two tolling points (or gantries) introduced as part of the project, each charging $1.25 per passing light vehicle, and $2.50 for heavy vehicles.
Physical work on the B2P project is due to begin next year. The Government Policy Statement on land transport 2024 requires NZTA to consider tolling for all new Roads of National Significance. The investment case for the B2P project confirmed tolling was possible and the revenue would support the construction, maintenance and operation of the road.
“Six tolling options were considered when assessing tolling suitability for this project, and these included placing tolling points either north or south of the proposed Williams Street interchange at Pineacres, or at both sites,” says NZTA System Design Regional Manager, Rich Osborne.
“Our analysis showed a single tolling point charging $2.50 for light vehicles would generate higher revenue than two tolling points each charging $1.25. However, the single tolling point had greater potential for diverting significant volumes of traffic onto local (and untolled) roads and impacting local communities. The single tolling point options also raised issues of fairness, where residents of Woodend would either avoid paying a toll altogether, or paying the same toll as those using the entire length of the road.”
“The proposal we settled on of two tolling points, one on each side of the Pineacres interchange, provides a balance between raising revenue to pay for the roading and managing the diversion of traffic into local communities.”
The tolling proposal will be subject to public feedback from today and open until Tuesday 9 September. People can visit the website to read more about the tolling proposal and have their say:
SH1 Belfast to Pegasus Motorway and Woodend Bypass tolling consultation
“If this proposed tolling proceeds, we’ll work with the Waimakariri District Council and Tuahiwi, Kaiapoi and Woodend communities on how to discourage that additional traffic being diverted into those communities,” Mr Osborne says.
In November, the NZTA Board endorsed the investment case for B2P, which sets an investment envelope between $800 million and $1 billion to design, consent, and construct the project. The investment case proposes:
- Widening the southern section of the existing SH1 from two to four lanes.
- A new four-lane motorway bypass in the northern section.
- A grade separated interchange at the Williams Street intersection with SH1.
- Replacement of the Pegasus roundabout intersection with a grade separated overbridge.
- A signalised intersection on Bob Robertson Drive, Woodend.
- Extension of Garlick Street from SH1 into the Ravenswood Developments.
- Kaiapoi Bridge seismic strengthening and widening.
- Construction of a new bridge over the Cam River and overbridges at Woodend Beach Road and Gladstone Road.
Geotechnical investigations for the project, examining ground conditions, including soil and rock types, groundwater depths and the strength of soil and rock, are substantially complete.
“We are now working through the scope and design of an early works package, with the consents for the early work package lodged in August. These early works will begin early next year,” Mr Osborne says.
Following public feedback on the tolling proposal and analysis of that feedback, a final tolling recommendation will go to the NZTA Board at the end of October. A proposal will then go to the Transport Minister, with a final decision on tolling resting with Cabinet on the advice of the Minister.
