Transmission Gully winter work programme extended

2 MinutesBy NZ Trucking magazineJuly 13, 2020

The current six-week winter construction programme for the Transmission Gully motorway (agreed in late May) will be extended by a further four weeks as the NZ Transport Agency continues to negotiate the full cost of the impact of the Covid-19 shutdown and agree a new completion date for the project with the contractor (Wellington Gateway Partnership) and the builder (CPB HEB Joint Venture).

The extension of the winter works programme will allow progress to continue on the project by ensuring that work continues through the winter construction season.

The NZTA has agreed to a further advance payment of $5m to cover the costs of the Covid-19 work shutdown and to enable the four-week extension of the winter works programme. This is additional to the advanced interim payment of $14m agreed in May 2020 and consistent with the advance payments related to the Covid-19 shutdown made available on other NZTA projects.

The NZTA is continuing to negotiate the full cost of the impacts of the Covid-19 shutdown with WGP and the CPB HEB JV for Transmission Gully. Both the $14m and the $5m payments will form part of any final settlement agreement.

“We understand that people are keen to know when the road will be finished, and we are committed to seeing it open at the earliest possible date. The extension of the winter works programme while negotiations continue will help minimise further delays. NZTA must take a considered approach to making any decisions that involve tax payer money and that is why an agreement on the new opening date and associated costs is taking time,” says NZTA transport services general manager, Brett Gliddon.

Commercial negotiations on the full impact of Covid-19 are ongoing, and the NZTA says it is not appropriate to make any further comment on these issues until the negotiations are completed.

“We understand the public interest in Transmission Gully and we will announce the new agreed completion date and further information when negotiations are complete,” Gliddon says.

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