New Zealand’s Government announced that it will rebuild the coastal rail line, including the road route, Kaikoura Harbour and will provide additional funding to speed up the process. Exact costs are still being determined, but the current estimate is between NZD 1.4 billion and NZD 2 billion (USD 967 million-USD 1.4 billion).
The existing State Highway 1 and rail corridor along the coastal route to the north and south of Kaikoura will be rebuilt, with additional improvements to increase safety and resilience.
“Since the day of the earthquake, restoring access to Kaikoura has been our number one priority. Agreeing to restore the coastal route demonstrates our ongoing commitment to getting this region back on its feet as quickly as possible,” Transport Minister Simon Bridges said.
According to the government, the limited access via the coastal route can be restored in about 12 months.
Photo: David Alexander/SNPA via AP
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