Wheels slowly starting to move on Wellington's $6.4 billion transport revamp
Thursday, 14 November 2019
The wheels are slowly beginning to turn on Wellington's $6.4 billion transport revamp, with contracts for design work put out for tender.
The Let's Get Wellington Moving (LGWM) group put tenders out on Thursday for planning and design work for a proposed mass transit system and Mt Victoria and Basin Reserve tunnels.
A solution for the congested Basin Reserve roundabout on State Highway 1 is said to to include a tunnel under Sussex St, while the extra Mt Victoria tunnel would run adjacent to the existing two-lane tunnel.
Those projects are not due to be completed until after 2029, although Wellington Mayor Andy Foster has said he will fight to bring that work forward.
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Work on a proposed mass transit system between Wellington Railway Station and Newtown is scheduled to being by 2024, with construction of an extension to the airport to begin by 2029.
LGWM programme director Andrew Body said tenders were now out for engineering, design and planning work for the three projects.
Contracts would be awarded next year, with early business case work hoped to start by early 2021.
'We need specialists with a strong understanding of what it takes to get things done in Wellington, combined with international expertise in planning, design and implementation of mass rapid transit.
'We're looking for innovation in planning and design, including opportunities to enhance spaces for the community. We'll also ensure the special character of the Basin Reserve is preserved.'
The total cost for the three projects was expected to be about $3 billion, Body said.
'Our plan is large, complex, and ambitious. With projects as big as these, we need to investigate and plan carefully at the start. We'll be working closely with our partners, stakeholders, and the community as we design each project.'