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Transport Minister Simon Bridges has announced that the Government will work with local stakeholders to identify and prioritise transport initiatives to help boost economic growth in Gisborne.

The announcement was made at the release of the Tairāwhiti Economic Action Plan in Gisborne today.

“The Integrated Transport Priority Plan will provide an opportunity for the region to help shape the transport network and find solutions to meet the needs of local customers, businesses, such as the forestry sector, and tourists,” says Mr Bridges.

Transport Minister Simon Bridges today opened a new section of State Highway 3 north of Normanby that will improve both capacity and safety on a critically important route for the Taranaki region.

The $17.6 million project was identified as a priority in the 2012-2015 Regional Land Transport Programme for Taranaki.

It was also included in the Government’s Accelerated Regional Roading Package which makes significant funding available to a number of regionally important State Highway projects.

Transport Minister Simon Bridges turned the first sod for the $1.98 million Te Tuaiwi cycleway at Whanganui Intermediate School today.

“Te Tuaiwi will connect existing cycleways to provide safer access to the centre of the city and allow the 3,500 students living within 500m of the route to cycle to school in the morning,” Mr Bridges.

New Zealand will join Australia in a world-leading satellite technology test-bed, Transport Minister Simon Bridges announced in Queenstown today.

The New Zealand and Australian Governments will be partners in a two-year trial of Satellite Based Augmentation Systems (SBAS), and an associated programme of trials.

SBAS is expected to improve air navigation, smartphone-based services, asset management and precision agriculture, and is expected to be needed for the deployment of connected and autonomous vehicles.

Transport Minister Simon Bridges today opened the $630 million Mackays to Peka Peka Expressway, delivering a long awaited road to the Wellington region.

The Expressway is part of the Wellington Northern Corridor, one of the Government’s Roads of National Significance, identified as key to economic growth.

The 18km four-lane expressway stretches along the Kāpiti Coast, and includes 18 bridges and 16km of walking and cycle ways.

Transport Minister Simon Bridges says the indicative route announced today for a new motorway between Auckland and Northland is a significant step forward in improving travel between the two regions.

The Indicative Route shows the progress being made in developing the Government’s Warkworth to Wellsford section of the Pūhoi to Wellsford Road of National Significance.

Excavators have moved on-site and physical work will begin next week clearing the large slips on State Highway 1 to the north of Kaikoura, Transport Minister Simon Bridges has announced today.

“This is good news not only for Kaikoura but also the rest of New Zealand as we begin to rebuild the road and rail networks that are critical to supporting our economy, to keeping these communities connected and boosting the prosperity of this region,” Mr Bridges says.

Transport Minister Simon Bridges says the opening of two temporary bridges on the alternate state highway route between Picton and Christchurch will improve safety and reduce travel times while repairs to State Highway 1 are underway.

The new Bailey bridges (temporary steel structures) have been installed alongside permanent one-way bridges at Upper Buller and Homestead Creek west of St Arnaud, allowing traffic to flow safely in both directions at all times.

Transport Minister Simon Bridges says building better cycling infrastructure remains a priority for the Government as today’s national Go by Bike Day event demonstrates the increased demand.

Mr Bridges joined the hundreds of people who took part in the annual Go by Bike Day event at the Wellington waterfront today with similar events held all over the country.

The Mackays to Peka Peka Expressway is scheduled to open this month, four months ahead of the original scheduled completion date of June 2017, Transport Minister Simon Bridges has announced.

The Expressway is a $630 million, 18km four-lane expressway along the Kāpiti Coast, and includes 18 bridges and 16km of walking and cycle ways.

Transport Minister Simon Bridges says the replacement of one-way bridges on Northland’s state highways has moved another step forward, with a contractor being appointed to carry out the works at Matakohe and Taipa.

A contract has been awarded to Fulton Hogan and Aurecon, who will jointly deliver the first part of the Northland Bridges programme, to replace two bridges at Matakohe and one at Taipa with two-way structures.

Transport Minister Simon Bridges today opened a new cycleway in Blenheim and marked the start of another, extending the existing walking and cycling network in the region.

The $1 million Spring Creek Shared Path is complete and construction will now begin on the Taylor River Cycleway.

“These new cycleways will make walking and cycling safer, more enjoyable transport choices for residents and students, as they will be separated from the high-speed traffic along State Highway 1,” Mr Bridges says.

Transport Minister Simon Bridges has welcomed the launch of New Zealand’s first trial of an autonomous electric shuttle at Christchurch International Airport today.

Last year HMI Technologies and Christchurch International Airport Limited announced they would be conducting a two-year research trial of a French-built Navya shuttle.

Transport Minister Simon Bridges says the publication of guidance on public charging infrastructure for electric vehicles (EVs) is timely as New Zealand’s fleet reaches more than 2500, exceeding all targets.

The guidance will support public charging infrastructure by providing clear recommendations for both investors and those enabling the development of charging station sites, such as local authorities.

The provisional road toll for 2016 is 326, Associate Transport Minister David Bennett says.

“The road toll is not just a number — every figure represents a life needlessly lost and family, friends and communities grieving. Our thoughts are with those that have lost loved ones on our roads over the past year” Mr Bennett says.