Route protection work is also progressing for the alternative to the Brynderwyn <\/a>Hills, which is highly vulnerable to slips<\/a>, causing frequent closures that sever Northland from Auckland. <\/p>\n Rissetto said she was pleased with the progress from Warkworth to Te Hana. <\/p>\n The AA was looking forward to seeing \u201cmore certainty\u201d around the timeframe for the Brynderwyns, especially since experts warned that the current alignment only had a maximum life of five to 10 years, she said. <\/p>\n Rissetto pointed out that planning work had already begun <\/a>on finding an alternative bypass route before it was scrapped by the Labour Government in 2018. <\/p>\n Back then, NZTA sought public feedback on two alternative route options<\/a> to the west of the Brynderwyns, but the Labour government put the project on hold<\/a>. <\/p>\n \u201cNZTA has been aware for a long time the Brynderwyns are a weak point on the network,\u201d Rissetto said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe want progress to continue on design and designating the land so that when it\u2019s ready to go … we\u2019re not starting from scratch.\u201d <\/p>\n Northland MP Grant McCallum said he was \u201creally pleased we\u2019ve got this project [Warkworth to Te Hana] over the line\u201d.<\/p>\n But major roading projects had to be phased, he said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s going to take seven years to build Warkworth to Te Hana, so that gives us plenty of time to work through the rest of the project. <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s all about having a pipeline of work. <\/p>\n \u201cIf the Labour Government hadn\u2019t cancelled the Te Hana route in 2017 we\u2019d be cutting the ribbon now, not turning the sod \u2013 and working on the next bit.\u201d <\/p>\n Labour transport spokesman Tangi Utikere said any suggestion the canning of previous Brynderwyns work was Labour\u2019s fault \u201cwas hogwash\u201d. <\/p>\n \u201cWhen Labour took office in 2017, many projects were poorly costed and unfunded \u2013 much like they are today. <\/p>\n \u201cThe Brynderwyn Hills work was reprioritised with safety improvements, public transport and regional road resilience at the fore. <\/p>\n \u201cThe current Government is now grappling with the very same funding gap it had last time it was in office when it comes to roading promises.\u201d <\/p>\n Bishop insisted the Government remained committed to its roading projects but accepted National\u2019s 2023 election promises were \u201cvery ambitious\u201d. <\/p>\n Not all projects could start immediately, with route protection, detailed design and property acquisition needing to be completed before main construction works could begin, he said.<\/p>\n \u201cPhasing the Rons programme means we can keep investing across the wider transport network, including in projects that improve reliability, strengthen resilience, and meet local and regional transport needs.\u201d <\/p>\n Whang\u0101rei Mayor Ken Couper said he understood the Government \u201cfaces difficult funding decisions\u201d. <\/p>\n \u201cBut our position in Northland is very clear. <\/p>\n \u201cA number of points make it very compelling; improving safety is a big one, strengthening resilience and supporting economic growth. <\/p>\n \u201cWe desperately need that resilience around the Brynderwyns solution.\u201d <\/p>\nRoute protection work is progressing for the Brynderwyns replacement, but the rest of the Northland Expressway heading north has been put on a slow burner.<\/p>\n