TRANSPORT

2nd Mt Victoria Tunnel

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi · Wellington

A new eastbound tunnel through Mt Victoria (2 lanes, plus a 3.6m walking and cycling path separated from traffic); the existing 1931 tunnel is retrofitted to carry 2 lanes westbound. Not separately costed: see the combined $3.8B package entry for the disclosed figure.

Mixed signals Data: Medium

Delivery Confidence Score, 0 to 100, higher is better: a ranking of how strong this project's delivery signals are, not a probability. It blends eight factors, including the election risk and policy alignment shown below.

Breakdown▾

Data current as at 13 Jun 2026, when the pipeline was last checked against its source.

Key facts

Region: Wellington
Part of: Wellington Transport Package (SH1 Improvements)
Sector: Transport
Status: Planning
Estimated value: Value TBC
Indicative completion: TBC
Funding status: Part Funded
Lead organisation: NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi
Election risk: Medium

Election risk assessment

One of three components of the $3.8B SH1 Wellington Improvements package (see 'Wellington Transport Package'); Labour and the Greens have said they would reinstate a mass-transit-focused programme instead of the roading-led replacement for LGWM.

Government priority alignment

MEDIUM: Part of the roads-focused replacement for the cancelled, PT-heavy LGWM; aligns with the current transport policy statement, though scope remains contested.

Chronology

2024NZTA Board endorses the preferred option (Oct): a duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel
2025Investment case endorsed and pre-implementation funding approved (Aug); community engagement on the design runs Nov-Dec
2026Fast-track consent application lodged (Aug 2026); main construction not expected to start until 2029, estimated 6-8 years to build

Source

SH1 Wellington Improvements: Basin Reserve and Mount Victoria Tunnel ↗

View 2nd Mt Victoria Tunnel on the live map →