Transit New Zealand yesterday heard submissions in Dunedin on its 2008-09 land transport programme and 10-year financial forecast.
The hearings panel comprised Transit NZ general manager strategic studies Deborah Hume, regional transportation manager Dave McGonigal, and Transit acting southern region manager Bruce Richards.
AA Otago district councillor Norman Oakley told the hearing he had seen a newspaper article about the Dunedin Airport first opening in the early 1960s, when an official was quoted as saying there should be a motorway completed between the airport at Momona and Dunedin within three or four years.
Now, about 45 years later, city officials were still waiting for the motorway.
He said while it was easy to find reasons to put things off in the early stages, that tended to result in plans taking a long time to come to fruition.
The motorway link was important to the growth of the city and was essential infrastructure, he said.
Transit needed to be fully committed to the project, and not move in a half-hearted manner, he added.
He said the two-lane highway built between Caversham and the Oval was an indication of a lack of foresight, as it quickly became inadequate.
Although the AA accepted a motorway to the airport could not be 100kmh the whole way because of topography issues, he hoped the road could have an uninterrupted flow, with no roundabouts and traffic signals.
Mr Oakley said the lapsing of the designation of the East Taieri bypass was disappointing, with no consultation on the decision.
If this project was not going to proceed, then a major upgrade of the existing alignment was needed, he said.
He questioned whether, if there was no regional funding, any large projects in the south would go ahead.
Dunedin resident Athol Stephens said he had real concerns about the western side of State Highway 8 just past Gorge Creek, near Fruitlands.
The road was misshaped, and some difficult manoeuvring had to take place, he said. More signs were needed, he added.
He also said the passing lanes either side of Victoria Bridge on SH6 at the western end of the Kawarau Gorge were at the wrong ends, causing cars to drive too fast.
The panel noted the submissions and would report back to the national Transit board with its recommendations.
