Whanganui mayor Hamish McDouall has welcomed $817 million in Government funding for the Otaki to Levin highway which he says will shift Whanganui closer to the capital.
As part of the $7 billion in projects announced today as part of the Government's $12 billion New Zealand Upgrade Programme, $817 million will go towards a four-lane highway from Otaki to north of Levin.
"The money in the budget is fantastic for Whanganui and the whole region," McDouall said.
"It's one of those key connectors like the Manawatu Gorge which is really important for Whanganui to get freight, tourism and essentially bring us closer to the capital."
"We are getting close to being regularly under two hours from here to Wellington. When it's an hour forty, it will improve Whanganui's commercial offering. "