National's Queenstown roads plan

Queenstown Lakes will get $100 million for roads over the next decade from the National Party's $24.8 billion transport fund, should they win the next election.

National leader Christopher Luxon National announced its Transport for the Future programme yesterday, as the party campaigns for votes in October's General Election.

Queenstown's share is $100m, while there's also money committed to progressively upgrading or replacing bridges across the Otago and Southland roading network.

Southland (Queenstown Lakes) MP Joseph Mooney says the party recognises the increased pressure on Queenstown's roading network from a growing population and the return to pre-pandemic visitor numbers by 2025.

"National will work with the Queenstown-Lakes District Council, local residents, and tourism operators to identify priority projects that makes best use of this funding.

"The Queenstown-Lakes District is the fastest growing region in New Zealand. With an increasing population and high visitor numbers, it’s important that we invest in the roading network and deliver the infrastructure this part of the country desperately needs.

"This is a significant investment that reflects how important good roading infrastructure is to the south and to New Zealand."

Waka Kotahi, under the Labour Government, is currently delivering the $115 million NZ Upgrade Queenstown Package, with improvements to Frankton Road, State Highway 6 and 6A, a new intersection at BP Roundabout and a roundabout at Howard's Drive, the Lake Hayes Estate turnoff, and a new bus interchange at Frankton.

It has also funded $50 million of the $109m downtown bypass project (arterial route).