Transport Minister Simon Bridges yesterday announced the next generation of "roads of national significance" which include two in Canterbury — although the farthermost south the roads go is Ashburton.
The new roads are expected to cost about $10.5billion, on top of the estimated $12billion invested in the initial seven.The two South Island roads are the Christchurch Northern Motorway and the road from Christchurch to Ashburton.
All the new roads will have continuous four-lane highways — two lanes of traffic flow in each direction; separation from opposing traffic flows; wide lanes and wide, sealed shoulders; safe roadsides clear of obstacles and ditches; mainly grade separated intersections, they have mainly overbridges, underpasses, or well-spaced at grade intersections; high standard landscaping and environmental controls; high quality signage.
Like the first tranche, the new national significant roads would be funded from the National Land Transport Fund and the use of public-private partnerships (PPPs).
The initial funding would come from the $32.5billion infrastructure funding announced in Budget 2017, Mr Bridges said.
"Strong transport connections are critical for our growing regions and support New Zealand’s economic prosperity. Roads of national significance are an important part of that.
"They are lead infrastructure projects, meaning we are investing now to encourage future economic growth rather than waiting until the strain on the network becomes a handbrake on progress."
The projects chosen were New Zealand’s highest volume roads, he said.
The completed roads of national significance were also the safest, having no road fatalities to date.
Both Labour and the Green Party will make transport policy announcements today.
