The coalition Government has announced Roads of Regional Significance, to sit alongside its Roads of National Significance initiative.

Roads of Regional Significance will single out essential routes that require prioritisation, and together with RoNS will replace the NZ Upgrade Programme.

“Expanding this programme to roads that are regionally significant will ensure that our cities and regions are well-connected, and our economy thrives,” said Transport Minister Simeon Brown.

The Government confirmed all decision-making responsibilities around project scope and delivery will be given to NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, with ministers no longer determining project scope and funding decisions.

“We are therefore changing how decisions are made on these projects and NZTA will be progressing with two RoNS and ten RoRS. Two further projects will now be incorporated into the Mill Road and Whangārei to Port Marsden Roads of National Significance listed in the draft Government Policy Statement on land transport 2024,” said Brown.

“In order to continue to deliver these projects, difficult decisions were made to keep costs within the existing $6.54 billion funding. We have made clear to NZTA that it must deliver these projects within the existing funding envelope, as there will be no additional Crown funding,” he added

National Road Carriers said it welcomes the Roads Of Regional Significance announcement.

Chief executive Justin Tighe-Umbers said the initiative was a “welcome return to structured planned investment of the transport network” and is in line with what NRC called for pre-election.

“A long-term plan for addressing the infrastructure deficit and providing certainty will drive down cost, enabling more to be done to return the network to a state that enables productivity and supports economic growth,” he said.

NRC said expanding the Roads of Significance programme to include those that are regionally significant will enable a more robust pipeline of work to be developed.

“With this increased certainty we hope to see the doors opening in terms of investment opportunities, both from local and international investors, and the contractors we need to attract to deliver the programme of work,” Tighe-Umbers said.

“This is a really positive step forward in terms of prioritising the work required, factoring in future demands, community and economic needs. We can look forward to increased resilience and productivity from the network which will benefit New Zealand as a whole.”