The New Zealand Transport Agency has unveiled a major proposal to reshape State Highway 1, including a second Mt Victoria tunnel, a second Terrace Tunnel, and significant changes from the Terrace all the way through to Kilbirnie. The price tag? Between $2.9 and $3.8 billion.

The goal, according to NZTA, is simple: alleviate Wellington’s longstanding bottlenecks. But the route to get there involves some major trade-offs.

A Second Mt Vic Tunnel — but at What Cost?

The proposal includes a new two-lane eastbound tunnel just north of the existing Mt Vic tunnel. The current tunnel would become two westbound lanes, sending traffic back into the city.

To make this work, NZTA says a portion of the Town Belt — around two hectares — would need to be used. A new 3.6-metre walking and cycling path would run through the new tunnel, offering a safer, more modern connection for active transport users.

But widening SH1 on the eastern side means big changes:

• Ruahine Street and Wellington Road would both become two lanes each way,
• Land from the northern end of Kilbirnie Park would be bought to fit the expanded corridor,
• A new Hataitai Park Bridge is proposed near Goa Street.

A New Terrace Tunnel Too

A second Terrace Tunnel is also part of the plan — this one for southbound traffic heading into the city. The existing tunnel would become northbound only.

To build it, NZTA says the walking track from Kumutoto Lane to the area above the tunnel would be removed. Some homes and businesses along the route may also be affected.

Changes at the Basin Reserve

Traffic around the Basin Reserve — currently one-way, clockwise — would shift to two-way, a change NZTA calls a “major roading upgrade.” Existing walking routes around the Basin would stay, but the Home of Compassion Crèche in Pukeahu War Memorial Park would need to be moved.

“Significant” — and Potentially Transformative

NZTA’s regional system design manager Kesh Keshaboina says the overhaul is “significant” and will have a major impact on Wellington’s transport future. Wellington mayor Andrew Little supports the direction overall but says there are important discussions to be had — especially with residents who may lose homes or face much higher traffic flows.

And for many Wellingtonians, the biggest sticking point is the impact on the Town Belt, a treasured green space woven deeply into the city’s history and identity.

So Wellington… What Do You Think?

This is one of the biggest infrastructure proposals Wellington has seen in decades — and it will shape how we move, live, and commute for generations.

🚗 Does a second Mt Vic tunnel finally fix our congestion?
🌿 Is using Town Belt land a fair trade-off?
🚶‍♀️ Do the walking and cycling improvements make it worthwhile?
🏘️ Are the impacts on homes and local streets too high?
💰 Is the $3b+ price tag justified — or money that could be better spent elsewhere?

Public meetings are coming — but we want to hear from you now.

👇ONE NETWORK Wellington Live asks: Are you for it, against it, or somewhere in between? Tell us in the comments — what’s your take on the new Mt Vic tunnel plan?