Stategic Study

The NPDC New Plymouth Stategic Transport Study cofirms New Plymouth needs a new connection road from the port around the city outskirts south to SH3 and a 2nd new Waiwhakaiho bridge. A bridge at the top end of smart road connecting with SH3 with the proposed port connection. Providing a ring road around the city from the port to Bell Block connecting all Arterial Road in and out of the city. The exsisting Waiwhakaiho Bridge also needs to widened or another bridge alond side to accommodate new residential and industrial developments north of the city. Weatgate Port Taranaki's dredging of the port to accommodate the larger Panamax ships, will also open the port to all sorts of new business opportunities, this will secure the ports viability well into the future. But as the Stategic Transport Study shows New Plymouth is totally unprepared for such huge growth. Not having the infrastructure or alternative heavy traffic routes in place.The city can in no way handle the future huge increase in heavy transport movements to and from the port.through the city. Adding to the already overloaded congested roading network. The Government needs to stop its BandAid approach to New Plymouths roading needs, pull its finger out, and put some serious money into by-passess and infrastructure solutions to accommodate the cities and the ports growth. Acknowledging New Plymouth and the ports vital roll and significance to the New Zealands economy as New Zealands only major westcoast deep water export port to the world.

Rusty Kane NZ