NZ InfraWatch
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TRANSPORT
SH6 Hope Bypass — Nelson/Tasman
NZ Transport Agency (Waka Kotahi) · Nelson
A new four-lane SH6 bypass east of Richmond, between SH60 and Whakatu Drive, to cut congestion through Richmond and support ~11,000 new homes. One of two South Island RoNS. Estimated ~$500m total (the projected cost has roughly doubled); ~$250m committed from the NLTF and Crown for the first two stages, spread across multiple NLTP periods. Design awarded to Stantec/WSP in Jan 2026; tolling likely; built in stages.
C
Breakdown▾
61% · Uncertain
Completion Probability — likelihood this proceeds on roughly its stated timeline.
Each axis is a scoring factor (0–100%)
Key facts
- Region
- Nelson
- Sector
- Transport
- Status
- Planning
- Estimated value
- $500m
- Indicative completion
- 2032
- Funding status
- Part Funded
- Lead organisation
- NZ Transport Agency (Waka Kotahi)
- Election risk
- High
Election risk assessment
South Island Road of National Significance — a National-government priority that Labour/Green would likely deprioritise in favour of safety and public-transport spending. Tolling is proposed.
Government priority alignment
HIGH — South Island RoNS four-laning — a core GPS economic-growth priority.
Chronology
- 2020Hope Bypass investigated under the Nelson–Tasman transport programme
- 2023Included in the GPS 2024 Roads of National Significance programme
- 2025Two-stage delivery plan confirmed; tolling signalled
- 2026Design contract awarded (Stantec/WSP); early works — site clearance and property — begin
- 2032Target for the first two stages to be complete