Andrew Bayly, MP for Hunua and Judith Collins, MP for Papakura have both launched petitions to save the Mill Road corridor project from Flat Bush and Manukau to Papakura and Drury, which is under review by the Labour Government.
“This project is vital to meet the needs of the increasing population and business development in the Franklin area, and the pressing need to create additional capacity for the motorway network,” Mr Bayly says.
“Unfortunately, Transport Minister Phil Twyford says a number of planned roading projects are under review, including the $955 million Mill Road corridor project, while the Government attempts to divert billions of dollars to smaller Auckland projects, such as inner city trams.
“Judith Collins and I have extensively lobbied for this transport improvement for South Auckland – our electorates are experiencing significant increases in population with more housing development projects currently taking place.”
He says that in addition to that an estimated 5000 new jobs are to be created in the Stevenson’s Drury South business park development. If the Mill Road expansion does not go ahead, the subsequent increase in motorway congestion will represent a barrier to the business park development.
“The proposed 4-lane highway from Mill Road and Redoubt Road through Papakura would take in Drury South and connect to a new intersection on SH1 between the Drury and Ramarama interchanges. It would be an important link of the upgraded South Auckland road network already including North and South motorway lane increases, and the Waterview motorway and tunnel,” he says.
“Thousands of people around the country have already signed the petitions because they see the importance of these roads to their communities and I encourage members of the Hunua electorate to show their support by signing the petition.”
- The petition can be found at https://andrewbayly.national.org.nz/mill_road_corridor
