Key Takeaways:
- Chunks of the road surface of the $1.25b Transmission Gully peeled off and stuck to car tyres due to high temperatures and slow traffic.
- The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has allocated a budget of $32m for the "summer maintenance season" to resurface and rebuild the highway.
- The road requires ongoing maintenance and rebuilding work, which is expected to continue for several years.
- The highway was built under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement, but incomplete works led to legal action in the High Court.
- The road’s construction was delayed due to budget blowouts, Covid-19, severe weather events, and the Kaikōura earthquake.
Introduction to the Issue
The Transmission Gully highway, a $1.25b project, has been plagued by issues since its opening in 2022. Recently, chunks of the road surface peeled off and stuck to car tyres due to high temperatures and slow traffic. This incident highlights the ongoing problems with the highway, which has never been fully completed. The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has acknowledged the issue and has allocated a budget of $32m for the "summer maintenance season" to resurface and rebuild the highway.
Causes of the Problem
The problem of bitumen sticking to tyres is not uncommon, especially during hot weather and slow traffic. The area reached a high of 23.8C yesterday, according to MetService, which contributed to the issue. The NZTA spokesman explained that resurfacing work must take place over summer as it requires warmer weather. However, this does not mean that the highway will be fully completed after the current maintenance season. In fact, the agency has confirmed that future rebuilding and resurfacing work will be needed for future summers.
History of the Project
The Transmission Gully highway has a long and complex history. The construction of the road was debated for over 100 years before it was officially started in 2014. The project was built under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement, but it has been plagued by setbacks, including budget blowouts, delays due to Covid-19, severe weather events, and the Kaikōura earthquake. The incomplete works ended up being the subject of legal action in the High Court between NZTA and the private road-builders. The matter was ultimately settled outside court in late 2024, with the ongoing operations and maintenance being brought in-house by the agency.
Current Maintenance Work
The current maintenance work, which is funded as part of the PPP arrangement, is expected to conclude mid-February. The $32m budget allocated for the "summer maintenance season" will help bring the highway up to standard for a speed limit increase to 110km/h, which is supported by more than 90% of commuters. However, a source familiar with the project has revealed that work could continue for five years, a claim that NZTA would not directly address when asked. The agency has confirmed that resurfacing and rebuilding work will continue on Transmission Gully as part of future summer maintenance seasons, but the specific work programme for future seasons has not been finalised.
Conclusion and Future Plans
The Transmission Gully highway is a complex and ongoing project that requires careful planning and maintenance. The current issues with the road surface are just one of the many problems that have plagued the project since its inception. The NZTA has acknowledged the issues and is working to address them, but it is clear that the highway will require ongoing maintenance and rebuilding work for several years to come. As the agency continues to work on the project, it is essential that they prioritize the safety and quality of the road to ensure that it meets the needs of commuters and the community. With the current maintenance work underway, it is hoped that the highway will eventually be completed to the standard that it was intended to be, providing a safe and efficient route for all users.
