Earlier this week the National Party unveiled its $24 billion transport package that includes the Woodend Bypass as a road of national significance.

The Woodend Bypass was first confirmed in 2013 following safety concerns from the community but Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency stalled the project.

Since then, many in the community, including Waimakariri District Council and Woodend-Sefton Community Board, have called for and organised public rallies calling for this project to be prioritised.

“The Woodend Pegasus area is growing rapidly and already over 20,000 vehicles pass through here every day. It’s simply not safe for residents, business owners and school children to have to content with heavy vehicles and traffic at this level,” says Mayor Dan Gordon.

“Woodend is a community divided by State Highway 1. It is a growing community and residents feel divided by this dangerous stretch of road.

“Infrastructure investment needs to come at the right time and unfortunately for Woodend, Pegasus and Ravenswood, the Woodend Bypass has been promised but no significant steps towards its delivery have been taken by Waka Kotahi.

“For this reason, the Council and I are fully in support of this policy as it prioritises the communities of Woodend, Pegasus and Ravenswood.”

The Council are also committed to continue to strongly advocate for better infrastructure investment from Waka Kotahi for the whole District.

There are many pressing road developments such as a replacement of Skew Bridge in East Kaiapoi as well as an Eastern Rangiora Link Road that are required to accommodate a growing population says Mayor Gordon.

“Growth areas like Waimakariri need infrastructure in place so they remain good places to live. You can’t allow for significant growth in terms of housing supply but not put in place infrastructure to service this.

“We are pushing for Waka Kotahi to listen to councils like Waimakariri and invest where the need is.”