Lives at risk from National's neglect of local roads

The National Government is letting rural roads fall into disrepair and this will inevitably cost lives, says Labour’s Transport Spokesperson Phil Twyford.

NZTA’s just-released spending projections for 2012-15 show National has flat-lined spending on the maintenance of local roads so it can continue to plough $12 billion over the next 10 years into new motorway projects, said Phil Twyford.

“This amounts to real cuts when you factor in inflation, and rising costs for bitumen. Councils have to either get the ratepayer to chip in more or allow roads to deteriorate.

“Local roads are facing wear and tear from much bigger trucks, and in many areas greater volumes of milk tankers and logging trucks.

“All over the country, councils have been allocated less than they need for the up-keep of local roads. NZTA’s Geoff Dangerfield has acknowledged that some roads will not get the attention they need.

“If rural roads are not maintained then it will undoubtedly lead to increased hazards for motorists and lives will be lost.

“National must front up to rural and provincial New Zealanders and tell them the truth that their roads are falling into disrepair because of all the money it is spending on its Roads of National Significance, many of which are poor value for money by the Government’s own figures.

“National’s policy is unbalanced. The taxpayer deserves a more hard-headed rational management of the $3 billion-plus annual transport spend,” said Phil Twyford.