Redesign for New Zealand link likely due to landslide risk

Plans for New Zealand’s US$188.7 million (NZ$270 million) Petone-Grenada road connection are now being revised due to concerns over the risk of landslides. In addition, the redesign will address concerns about the high costs of the new route, which was originally proposed with two lanes in either direction as a connection between Wellington. The new route is expected to carry up to 30,000 vehicles/day and is intended to reduce congestion on a section of State Highway 1 at peak periods.

Local officials say that the project is still likely to go ahead but may be redesigned so as to improve its resistance to landslides and also to lower costs.