PM reaffirms support for Hope Bypass

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has reiterated the Government’s support for building the Hope Bypass to unclog a "chokepoint" of congestion in Richmond.

“It’s a long overdue project,” he said during a visit to the area on Monday.

“The Government Policy Statement identifies the Hope Bypass as a key strategic priority project, so we can expect to see progress on that over the next three years as they do the planning.”

The Hope Bypass is the name for the project that will shift State Highway 6 off Gladstone Rd onto a new purpose-built road which is expected to significantly ease congestion around the intersection at Lower Queen Street.

The bypass will essentially travel along where the current Railway Reserve cycleway runs – behind the Lower Queen St McDonald’s and Jubilee Park, parallel to Gladstone Rd – until it rejoins with Main Road Hope at some point past Ranzau Rd.

“It will help to unclog what is quite a chokepoint for economic activity in the region. With housing expanding in that part of the area as well, I think it’s good news to get that opened up,” Hipkins said.

Labour MP for Nelson Rachel Boyack said the construction of the bypass would also help fix the layout of the Lower Queen St intersection, which is increasingly dangerous.

The bypass hasn’t been designed yet, so the specific details of the road’s entries and exits are still up for debate, but she says it was “highly likely” the bypass would flyover Lower Queen St.

“This is exactly why we are pushing ahead with the necessary planning, design work and consenting, so that we can finalise detailed plans and get on with building the new bypass,” she said.

Though much is still to be decided, Rachel confirmed a separated cycleway will run along the length of the bypass so the “important” Great Taste Trail cycleway – which travels along the current path of the bypass – is protected.

There will also be at least one safe passageway so active travellers can easily travel between the new Berryfields development and the rest of Richmond.

“We have those large logging trucks and other industrial vehicles interacting with elderly people on motor scooters and kids trying to cross the road,” she says.

“A big part of what we’re doing is actually adjusting the layout to disconnect those types of road users from each other so that it’s safer for people to walk, cycle, and use the bus.”

The National Party has also committed to building the Hope Bypass if voted into Government.

“It’s the number one priority for the Nelson and Tasman councils to unlock congestion, boost productivity, and to ensure that this region can grow and unlock more housing,”  National Party transport spokesperson Simeon Brown says.

“This will have significant economic growth opportunities for the entire Nelson and Richmond region.”

National’s candidate for Nelson, Blair Cameron, added that the bypass should have been built sooner.

“Labour have had six years in government, they haven’t done this.”

However, Rachel says since she was elected as the region’s MP in 2020, she has “worked hard” with Tasman District Council and Waka Kotahi to develop a transport plan for rapidly-growing Richmond. This included the eventual provision of the Hope Bypass, which has now been adopted.

“I’ve worked alongside neighbouring [West Coast-Tasman] MP Damien O’Connor to ensure this transport project was included in the Government’s transport plans for the next three years. It is a critical transport project for Nelson, and it now has certainty under Labour.”

Rachel would like construction to begin “as soon as possible” after the design work and consenting has been completed, which will take place over 2024-2027, while National has committed to starting construction within four to 10 years.

“If we can start sooner, we will," Simeon added.