SH2 faces drop in status

LAWRENCE GULLERY State Highway 2 through Hastings and Napier could revert to being a local road as the Hawke's Bay Expressway gathers favour as the preferred main route through the twin cities.
The move, suggested by Transit New Zealand, has drawn apprehensive comments from local councillors who say they don't want to be landed with a road which could cost ratepayers money to upgrade.
The details were released in Transit's National State Highway Strategy this month, which looks at long-term goals for the national road network.
The strategy said plans to revert SH2 to a local road would need to be approved by the Hawke's Bay Regional Land Transport Strategy.
Napier city councillor Harry Lawson said the (Hastings and Napier) councils would have to take responsibility of the state highway but shouldn't be left to foot any bills for maintenance.
Mr Lawson, who is also on the Hawke's Bay Regional Transport Committee, said Transit needed to talk to the councils before finalising any decisions.
"If they are going to bring the road up to scratch, that's no problem, but if they are expecting ratepayers to pick up the costs, there would have to be some negotiations between Transit and the council," he said.
Hastings district councillor Tim Tinker, also on the transport committee, said he understood Transit's reasons for reverting the state highway.
"But I'm not saying I agree with it. When Transit turns over a road they normally upgrade it and we can accept that," he said.
Transit had already indicated a number of projects for the SH2 network between Hastings and Napier and Mr Tinker said he wanted to see that work completed before any handover.
"We don't want to be left with deferred maintenance," he said.
In particular, Mr Tinker said bridges were a worry, especially the Waitangi washout bridge, near Awatoto, which was due to be replaced within the next five years, a project forecast to cost about $100,000.
"Council hasn't had a good look at this yet and we need to, so we can decide on our position.
"We are spending a lot of money on making the Expressway work with the northern arterial route (a road link to Havelock North), the Whakatu link and moving traffic off Marine Parade."
Mr Tinker was also worried about a section of SH2, between Hastings and Clive, originally built during the depression years of the 1930s.
"The road was built in concrete blocks and tar-sealed over, there is a section that will soon need to be rebuilt and it could be a huge expense breaking up the concrete," he said.