Transport Minister Simeon Brown says the coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to boost funding for pothole prevention.
Indicative funding levels have been confirmed by the NZ Transport Agency showing a record increase in funding to help fix potholes on State Highways and local roads.
The NZTA board has confirmed indicative funding levels in the National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) to give effect to the Government’s commitment to significantly increase funding for road maintenance, says Brown, the MP for Pakuranga.
“NZTA has confirmed over the next three years the agency will deliver a record $2.07 billion for State Highway pothole prevention and $1.9b for local road pothole prevention.
“Compared to spend under the last Government’s 2021-2024 NLTP, this represents a 91 per cent increase in funding for State Highway pothole prevention and a 50 per cent increase in the total funding for local road pothole prevention.
“We have ring-fenced this record investment in the Pothole Prevention Fund to resealing, rehabilitation, and drainage maintenance works to ensure NZTA and councils get our State Highways and local roads up to the safe and reliable standards Kiwis expect.”
Brown says the Government inherited a significant backlog of road maintenance across the network with more than 62,000 potholes needing repair on State Highways around the country last year.
“We are now catching up on the maintenance deficit to ensure Kiwis and freight can get to where they need to go, quickly and safely.
“Indicative funding levels confirmed under our Government provide councils with much-needed certainty as they finalise their Long-Term Plans.
“It will also enable roading contractors to have a clear pipeline of work in our roading network, which will allow more investment in the people and equipment needed for its maintenance.
“Kiwis want potholes fixed and our roads properly maintained, and this funding boost will deliver real results across the country.”
