National promises to fund $800 million Christchurch Northern Motorway extension
The New Zealand National Party has pledged $800 million to extend the Christchurch Northern Motorway if they win the next election. The project aims to reduce traffic congestion, improve freight efficiency, and significantly decrease accident rates on the SH1 corridor.
Why it matters
Infrastructure funding promises are central to political campaigns and have long-term impacts on regional economic growth and public safety.
National is promising to fully fund an extension to the Christchurch Northern Motorway at the cost of $800 million in next year's budget, if it leads the next government.
National's transport spokesperson Chris Bishop said funding it in the next government's first Budget means construction can begin next year.
The party said it would fully fund the Belfast to Pegasus Motorway and Woodend Bypass, "the next major transport project Canterbury needs", said Bishop as he made the announcement in Christchurch.
"Canterbury is the engine room of the South Island... North Canterbury is one of the places where that growth is being felt most strongly."
Bishop said the Belfast to Pegasus Motorway and Woodend Bypass would extend the Christchurch Northern Motorway around 11 kilometres north, from just south of the Waimakariri River to beyond Pegasus and Ravenswood.
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