This week, there’s only one topic to discuss: Transmission Gully has officially opened for business. After years of planning, consultation, development, construction, replanning, re-consultation, redevelopment, reconstruction and delays, including the impacts of Covid-19 – oh, the delays! – Wednesday 30 March was the day. It almost felt as though we’d never see it. Good thing they didn’t wait another two days, as no doubt the whole country wouldn’t’ve taken a blind bit of notice – thinking it was an attempt at one of the biggest April Fools’ jokes imaginable.

Jokes and sarcasm aside, I’m not going to pretend I know all about civil engineering and completing a public-private partnership infrastructure contract, but Transmission Gully must be a prime example of overpromising and underdelivering. It was originally scheduled to open in April 2020, but by February that year, the NZTA advised it wouldn’t be the case, and the road would instead be open before Christmas (of that year – no more jokes, remember).

I don’t for one moment scoff at the enormity of the task that the Wellington Gateway Partnership and road-builder contractor CPB HEB faced as they worked through the project. More than 11,000,000m³ of earth was moved (the largest volume of earthworks ever undertaken on a roading project in New Zealand), and 25 structures were built to construct the 27km of motorway through some challenging terrain.

That’s bound to take some time and cost a bundle. When the PM cut the ribbon on Wednesday, the counters stopped at seven years, six months and 22 days, and $1.25 billion. Only, they didn’t – they’re still running.

Despite being open to traffic, numerous quality and assurance tests had been deferred to meet the end of March deadline. These, Waka Kotahi said, would not compromise public safety “as they relate to ensuring the long-term quality of the road”. If I’m interpreting that correctly – and I hope I’m not – it means it’ll not be long before this brand-new, state-of-the-art stretch of national road is littered with orange cones and warning signs like any other.

As it is, the agency states that a “significant amount of work remains to complete all aspects of the project”. It says contractors will still be working on Transmission Gully over the next 12 months, so let’s see…

Sure, there would always be a few bits and bobs to tidy up. But, really – even with full acknowledgement of the things’ scale – if any awards are handed out after all this, they could only be as worthwhile and sincere as each child in the class receiving a participation trophy just for being there.

Nonetheless, let’s take Transmission Gully’s opening as a win. The politicians present certainly did. Deputy PM Grant Robertson even said: “The new motorway will also have economic benefits, with faster movement of freight and more resilience in our transport links.”

Don’t mind if we do, but we’ll take that as an official acknowledgement of the importance of good roads and the transport industry.

The opening of Transmission Gully was worth waiting for, after all.

Take care out there,

Gavin Myers
Editor