Herald welcomes four lanes to Northland

The Herald editorial:

You could almost hear the sighs of relief from Waipū, Paihia, Whangārei and Kerikeri yesterday when Transport Minister Chris Bishop revealed the earmarked route for a four-lane highway. …

This road will effectively connect the region to the rest of the country, replacing the unreliable goat track we are all too familiar with. …

For too long, Northland has been ignored by the decision-makers in Wellington and has languished as one of our most economically deprived regions.

People and businesses have suffered because of bureaucratic inaction and inefficiencies.

Those who live in the winterless north, often working in small operations and seasonal tourism ventures, can now see a future where their livelihoods aren’t determined by weather and how long authorities take to clear the roads.

Labour had derided the building of the northern expressway as a “holiday highway”, claiming it was only going to serve the wealthy bach owners of Ōmaha, Matakana and Mangawhai.

I have no doubt this will make a huge difference to Northland.

The difference between single laned and double laned roads is massive. In the former you travel at the speed of the slowest vehicle. In the latter you travel at around the speed limit (and have double the capacity).

Just look at how the combination of Transmission Gully, Kapiti Expressway and Otaki Expressway has transformed getting into and out of Wellington. Last week I got to Whanagnui in just two hours and 15 minutes. Used to be close to three hours.

You used to have around six to eight traffic jams of several minutes to half an hour or more to get to Levin. The change has been amazing – not just less time, but so much less stressful.

What Labour called the Holiday Highway will be a huge boon to Northland.