Considering that construction of a 4km road tunnel beneath the country’s capital, is in New Zealand government’s program, investigation about the cost and feasibility of a pair of two-lane tunnels, which would intend to decrease congestion on State Highway 1 through Wellington, has been asked from NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi.
As Transport minister Simeon Brown stated, in order to saving up to 15-minute travel time savings between the region and Wellington airport, the Long Tunnel option had the suitable potential in comparison to around two to three minutes for the current parallel or diagonal tunnel proposals at Mt Victoria and the Basin Reserve.
He also added: “The proposal aligned with the Government Policy Statement on Land Transport, including a reduction in travel times, greater resilience for the SH1 corridor, and improved safety for road users, pedestrians, and cyclists.”