There is still more work to be done before Transmission Gully can open, including safety and quality assurance tests.

Waka Kotahi says that while construction on the road is inching closer to the finish line, there is still work to be done behind the hills and on the safety and quality assurance tests and consent tasks that need to be completed for the road to safely and legally open to traffic.

Transmission Gully is being built by the Wellington Gateway Partnership, and its sub-contractor CPB HEB Joint Venture.

Under the Public Private Partnership contract, it is the responsibility of WGP and the builder, CPB HEB, to deliver a road that meets the safety, quality and environmental standards agreed in the contract, and expected by the public.

There are 100 safety and quality assurance tests the contract stipulates must be met before the road can open. WGP and the builder also need to complete 45 consent tasks in order to meet the contractual requirements for road opening.

“These tests are important, not just to meet the contractual requirements, but to help ensure there are no major issues that would require repairs after the road opens to traffic, which could lead to frustrating and disruptive closures for motorists,” Waka Kotahi said.

As at 19 November 2021, 38 final test submissions have been received from the builder, of which 28 have been accepted by the Independent Reviewer as meeting the required specifications.

Some 45 partial submissions have been made and 17 tests are yet to be submitted.

Waka Kotahi is reminding people that while the road may start to look finished, the safety, compliance and assurance tests still need to be completed for the road to open safely to traffic.

Once those standards are met, the PPP contract will move into the service phase – the 25-year maintenance and operations period, which will be managed by WGP and its maintenance and operations subcontractor, Ventia, after which it will be handed to Waka Kotahi at an agreed standard.