Stratford mayor Neil Volzke has welcomed the announcement of additional funding for SH43, the Forgotten World Highway.
By Stratford Press, 28 February 2020
The stretch of road which connects Stratford to Taumarunui is one of the winners in a new round of regional services funding announced by Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones.
Jones announced a package of $190m in spending, as part of the $300m earmarked for the regions in the Government’s new $12 billion infrastructure programme.
The money will go towards a range of safety improvements and other needed work on the stretch of highway. Photo: Stratford Press
$13.4 million of that money is earmarked for improving SH43, the Forgotten World Highway, something Mayor Neil Volzke has been loudly and consistently lobbying for.
“This funding announcement is great news for the Taranaki region and comes on top of the $9.6 million already promised for sealing the last 12km of the SH43.
“We have been lobbying for these road improvements for many years and a better, safer road will be welcomed by all motorists. It is very satisfying for us, that Minister Jones has supported our view and given the green light for this future work.”
Technically, the money does not come from the Provincial Growth Fund (PGF), but is part of a new spending initiative, the NZ Upgrade Programme. It will be administered by the Provincial Development Unit, a division of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment which also runs the PGF.
“This funding boost has allowed us to get projects under way that may not have been an exact fit with the Provincial Growth Fund criteria but were worthy investments nonetheless,” said Jones.
The project will include a range of upgrades to the road, including safety improvements, passing opportunities, a single-lane bridge upgrade and culvert replacements.
The improvements will provide resilience for the Central North Island’s transport network, as an important alternative to SH3 between Taranaki and the Upper North Island.
The Forgotten World Highway is promoted as a tourist destination and the previously announced Provincial Growth Fund funded sealing of the unsealed section of the Tangarakau Gorge is expected to drive GDP gains into Taranaki of up to $45 million over 40 years
