Two-stage plan, tolls likely for Hope Bypass

A new investment case for the Hope Bypass will see the project built in two stages – and supports tolling the road once the project is complete.

On Monday, Transport Minister Chris Bishop and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced that the NZ Transport Authority Waka Kotahi had approved investment cases for each of the Government’s “Roads of National Significance” (RoNS) projects – including the Hope Bypass through Richmond, in Tasman.

Combined funding of $1.2 billion would allow the projects to move to the next stage of development.

Of that, $72.6 million is earmarked to progress design, consenting and procurement activities for the Hope Bypass. The total project cost is expected to be between $1.1b and $1.4b.

“The Government is committed to building a long-term pipeline of transport infrastructure investments to redress New Zealand’s infrastructure deficit and build jobs and growth for Kiwis,” Bishop said.

The investment case summary for the Hope Bypass proposes the project being built in two stages.

The first will focus on the stretch of State Highway 6 from Whakatu Drive in Nelson to the Queen St intersection in Richmond, including:

• A grade separated interchange at the Salisbury Rd Extension.
• Upgrading the deviation to four lanes.
• Widening Lower Queen St and Gladstone Rd to accommodate an additional right turn lane.
• Signalising the intersection of Lower Queen and Stratford streets.

Stage two will go from the deviation to SH60m and will involve:

• A new four-lane grade separated interchange at Lower Queen St.
• A four-lane Richmond Bypass.
• A new two-lane roundabout at the SH60 intersection.

The investment case summary also states that cycleway routes and connections would be retained, and keeping the designation between SH60 to Edens Rd in Hope for future development

It further proposes “tolling … to support the construction and maintenance of the road”.

According to the investment case summary, the project will reduce peak travel times through Richmond by at least 10 minutes by 2034, and 16 minutes by 2054.

It would also support 10,800 new households by 2034 and 11,000 by 2054, and prevent one to two injury crashes a year.

Bishop said SH6 provided a “vital connection between Port Nelson and the wider upper South Island, supporting people and freight”.

“Travel demand regularly exceeds capacity during peak periods, particularly in Richmond, and NZTA will prioritise investment that improves travel times, safety, and reduces congestion.

“The investment case has shown the Hope Bypass represents a good case for investment and strong benefits, with the immediate focus into two stages of work on SH6 between SH60 and Whakatu Drive.”

Building it in stages allowed NZTA to address immediate capacity and safety issues, while spreading the cost, he said.

“The investment case supported tolling the Hope Bypass to help fund the construction and maintenance of the road. I expect to receive advice from NZTA on tolling the Hope Bypass in due course.

“Once I have considered that advice, we will announce the next steps.” If tolled, the benefit to cost ratio was 1.1, but untolled it was 1.7.

More information about construction timelines would be available in the coming months, Bishop said.

“It is important that we also have a clear plan for delivery, including well-reasoned prioritisation to inform the order in which these RoNS are funded and delivered.”

Nelson mayor Nick Smith welcomed the announcement, saying it was a “significant step forward for the Hope Bypass project and positive for Nelson and Tasman”.

“The current highway bottleneck at Nelson’s southern entrance is a drag on the regional economy and discourages people from coming into the city.”

This funding announcement would progress design, consenting and procurement work, he said.

“We will then need to secure the hundreds of millions of capital investment for construction … I welcome today’s progress and look forward to the detailed design work being completed.”