Two major road upgrades in Richmond and Appleby have moved a step closer, with planning and investigation work underway at the Lower Queen St and McShane Road state highway intersections.
Both projects have been identified as priorities as traffic volumes increase across the Waimea Plains, driven in part by continued residential and commercial development around Richmond.
At the intersection of State Highway 60, Pugh Rd and McShane Rd near Appleby, design work is underway for a new roundabout.
The intersection has been the subject of longstanding safety concerns, with 22 crashes recorded since 2021, most involving vehicles crossing or turning.
Around 12,000 vehicles use the intersection each day, making it an important connection for residents, freight operators and visitors travelling between Richmond, Māpua and Motueka.
NZTA Waka Kotahi and its consultants are working with Tasman District Council, landowners and nearby businesses on the design.
Once that work is completed, construction funding will be considered through the 2027–2030 National Land Transport Programme.
This means construction could take place during that three-year period, although no start date has been confirmed.
Meanwhile, further investigations are getting underway at the SH6 and Lower Queen St intersection, another major congestion point for Richmond motorists.
Geotechnical and pavement testing will help inform the detailed design of intersection improvements being developed as part of the Hope Bypass project.
The first stage of that project focuses on the section of SH6 between Lower Queen St and the Link Road roundabout near Main Road Stoke.
Proposed improvements include increasing turning capacity at Lower Queen St and Gladstone Rd, widening the Richmond Deviation to four lanes and constructing a new interchange at Salisbury Road Extension.
The aim is to ease congestion through Richmond before a larger bypass is developed in the future.
NZTA has identified Stage 1A of the Hope Bypass as a priority for the 2027–2030 period, subject to funding. However, a construction start date for the Lower Queen St improvements has yet to be announced.
Both projects feature in NZTA's draft State Highway Investment Proposal for 2027–2037, which sets out potential transport investment across the country.
While the programme identifies the projects as priorities, their inclusion does not guarantee funding or construction.
Final decisions will depend on government transport priorities and funding allocations.
