‘Challenging’ arterial bypass road open to traffic

Making the first motorised trip along Queenstown’s new arterial road yesterday is Queenstown...
Making the first motorised trip along Queenstown’s new arterial road yesterday is Queenstown Lakes District Council commercial and procurement manager Geoff Mayman. PHOTO: STILL VISION PHOTOGRAPHY
More than three years after the first sod was turned, traffic is flowing on the first stage of Queenstown's long-awaited arterial bypass road.
 
The 1.1km road linking Frankton Rd to Gorge Rd was opened in stages yesterday after a blessing ceremony.
 
Queenstown Lakes District Mayor Glyn Lewers thanked the community for its patience during the road's construction, acknowledging it had been a "challenging and disruptive time for local residents and businesses".
 
"It's been arguably the most complex project we've ever delivered, and it's safe to say it has taken longer and cost more than we expected."
 
Mr Lewers said the first stage would help to reduce traffic in the town centre, improve access for public transport, make streets more pedestrian-friendly, and provide space for the town centre to grow.
 
However, costs increases and delays have raised the ire of locals, and it has been dubbed the "road to nowhere".
 
The first stage received a $50m government grant in 2020 before getting fast-tracked consent as a Covid-19 recovery project the following year.
 
The public-private partnership tasked with delivering it, the Kā Huanui a Tāhuna Alliance, made four requests for additional funding from the council, blowing its budget from $50m to more than $128m.
 
Stages two and three, which would continue the road around the town centre before linking with the Queenstown-Glenorchy Rd roundabout, are not funded for construction.
 
The council's long-term plan, adopted last year, has funding for early design and land acquisition beginning in 2029-2030.
 
Mr Lewers said the council would continue to lobby for funding to complete the full route.
 
Meanwhile, work continues on the first stage's fringes, including construction work on side roads and landscaping.
 
On February 10, crews will move on to a stormwater upgrade on Stanley/lower Ballarat Sts that is associated with the project.
 
 

 

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