Transmission Gully progress towards opening

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#2804938 31-Oct-2021 21:10

k1w1k1d:
Reminds me of the story that the US Army offered to build a highway from Auckland to Wellington during WWII. Not sure whether it is true or just a good story?

I heard a version where they offered to build a second tunnel to the Wairarapa.

Technofreak

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#2804939 31-Oct-2021 21:14

MikeB4: I would rather see the electrification of the main trunk rail line and decent fast passenger trains.

We don't have the population to support fast or slow passenger trains. We don't have the right track infrastructure for fast trains.

For trains (or buses or the like) to work the service needs to be frequent. The train between Hamilton and Auckland is only surviving because of the massive subsidies. During the week days the patronage is poor. Saturday is the only day that gets worthwhile loadings

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Technofreak

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#2804943 31-Oct-2021 21:22

raytaylor:

I like what France is doing - short distance commercial flights are going to be illegal where a train can complete a similar journey in 2 hours 30min or less.
For NZ that would mean flights from wellington > north, would not end at palmy or wanganui.
For Auckland It would mean only flying north of whangarei or south of hamilton/thames.

If a drive-on/drive-off + passenger overnight train service was implemented, there wouldnt be a good enough reason why that couldn't be extended further for the 6am early morning / businessmens flights so they can use the train also.

There are some significant differences between the two countries. France has a bigger population and a much better public (train) transport due to that bigger population. In fact for trips of 2 hours 30 or less the train is very often faster when measured on a door to door basis, taking into account check in times etc. There is generally no advantage in taking a flight over these distances in France, that's why the 2 hour 30 minute figure was chosen.

Try going by surface transport in New Zealand the same distance as a 2 hour 30 minute train journey takes you in France and see how long it takes.

Due to our topography, relatively sparse population and lack of any decent public transport infrastructure it's not possible to make a fair comparison between New Zealand and France. Short distance air travel will remain a feature of the travel network in New Zealand.

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dolsen

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#2804950 31-Oct-2021 23:02

The builders really got off easy I think with the extension due to Covid. No way they were going to be ready, especially with how much longer they are taking now the pressure is off.

I missed giving the response to the speed consultation they had earlier, but, one thing I did see was that they were looking at a speed limit of 100Km/h. I thought that this was weird, as transmission gully has a design speed of 110km/h. In fact, they increased the price to have it a 110km/h road, so, they should be using it.

"Changes to road design standards and structural upgrades for bridges also inflated the initial price.

One key increase came after the road costed at a 100km/h speed limit needed to be changed to 110km/h." - https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/transmission-gully-never-likely-to-hit-initial-cost-estimates-according-to-review/LJJB3NXUZWLCXRUKP2YDX7LSA4/

Hopefully they are only having the speed limit at 100km/h while they see the impact it has on local roads and the flow of traffic, but, given the quality of the Kapiti expressway, and the fact that it too is still only 100km/h, it is possible that the extra money they spent for a 110km/h rated road was wasted in the short term.

Geektastic

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#2804953 31-Oct-2021 23:49

Technofreak:

raytaylor:

I like what France is doing - short distance commercial flights are going to be illegal where a train can complete a similar journey in 2 hours 30min or less.
For NZ that would mean flights from wellington > north, would not end at palmy or wanganui.
For Auckland It would mean only flying north of whangarei or south of hamilton/thames.

If a drive-on/drive-off + passenger overnight train service was implemented, there wouldnt be a good enough reason why that couldn't be extended further for the 6am early morning / businessmens flights so they can use the train also.

There are some significant differences between the two countries. France has a bigger population and a much better public (train) transport due to that bigger population. In fact for trips of 2 hours 30 or less the train is very often faster when measured on a door to door basis, taking into account check in times etc. There is generally no advantage in taking a flight over these distances in France, that's why the 2 hour 30 minute figure was chosen.

Try going by surface transport in New Zealand the same distance as a 2 hour 30 minute train journey takes you in France and see how long it takes.

Due to our topography, relatively sparse population and lack of any decent public transport infrastructure it's not possible to make a fair comparison between New Zealand and France. Short distance air travel will remain a feature of the travel network in New Zealand.

Also France tackles things like infrastructure projects very differently from NZ.

If the French government decide to build a new railway from A to B, they do not then spend 50 years 'consulting'. They serve compulsory acquisition notices, agree values, buy the route and get on with it. A friend of mine had a holiday home in the way of such a railway. He summarised the process as a knock on the door, "Bonjour Monsieur - we need your house for the glory of the Republic - here is a cheque and please be gone in a month. Thank you."! I am sure it had more to it than that but without proceeding like that it is very very hard to get national infrastructure projects to move forward in a reasonable time.

michaelmurfy

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#2804954 31-Oct-2021 23:56

I'm really looking forward to this as I live in Paraparaumu. Currently the drive isn't too bad, but think this is going to make things a whole lot better and also means we shouldn't get cut off again.

I remember a couple of years back I had to catch the ferry - gave myself plenty of time but the road to Wellington was closed due to an accident. Had to go the long way around and only JUST made it - this was one of the more stressful sides of living out this way.

Just something I've seen on this motorway is the amount of sensors:

These seem to be positioned rather close together and I am guessing they're a newer solution to monitoring traffic flow (thinking they have directional antennas) unless if somebody else can correct me here!

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robbyp

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#2804957 1-Nov-2021 00:27

I remember having dinner with an engineer who was in their 70's over a decade ago, and he said he would never see Transmission Gully finished in his lifetime, as it has always been that project that was too expensive and difficult. He is still alive.

At least it is not a toll road, and they didn't cave in on that.

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#2804960 1-Nov-2021 00:55

Define "finished", apparently the road builders are taking the design engineers to court with the hearings starting sometime in 2023 or 2024.

k1wi

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#2804962 1-Nov-2021 02:57

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DjShadow

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#2804963 1-Nov-2021 04:45

There is a competition on Wellington BBQs and Fire's Facebook page where you could win a BBQ if you correctly guess Transmission Gully's opening date

raytaylor

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#2805022 1-Nov-2021 07:39

Geektastic:

I heard a version where they offered to build a second tunnel to the Wairarapa.

Thats a very good idea.

A 7km long tunnel between where current SH1 entry into featherston and marchant road at kaitoke would be awesome and save 6kms off the journey over the rimutaka hill, while also being flat and save a bunch of energy.

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MikeB4

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#2805027 1-Nov-2021 08:12

raytaylor:

Geektastic:

I heard a version where they offered to build a second tunnel to the Wairarapa.

Thats a very good idea.

A 7km long tunnel between where current SH1 entry into featherston and marchant road at kaitoke would be awesome and save 6kms off the journey over the rimutaka hill, while also being flat and save a bunch of energy.

That scenario has been well and truly ruled out. Cost, geotech and seismic engineering studies have shown it is not viable.

tanivula

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#2805029 1-Nov-2021 08:15

michaelmurfy:

These seem to be positioned rather close together and I am guessing they're a newer solution to monitoring traffic flow (thinking they have directional antennas) unless if somebody else can correct me here!

I seem to recall when they were building the original Kāpiti expressway they introduced vehicle 'electrical' tracking to help with the prediction of the expected durations. Guessing this is the evolution of that?

floydbloke

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#2805044 1-Nov-2021 08:49

martyyn: Kapiti grapevine says it will open 15/16 December.

...

I posted these photos on the Whitby community Facebook page and someone mentioned the same date so now at least we know that's firm😝

Did Eric Clapton really think she looked wonderful...or was it after the 15th outfit she tried on and he just wanted to get to the party and get a drink?

cshwone

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#2805045 1-Nov-2021 08:50

MikeB4:

That scenario has been well and truly ruled out. Cost, geotech and seismic engineering studies have shown it is not viable.

Glad those last two weren't a factor for the Rail Tunnel :)

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