A new community action group has been launched to drive the fight to make State Highway 1 at Woodend and Pegasus safer, and bring the Woodend Bypass back to the table, Waimakariri MP Matt Doocey says.

Last month, Doocey brought National’s leader, Hon Simon Bridges, to a public meeting he called so residents could vent their frustrations over the delay of Woodend corridor safety improvements by the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) while it seeks funding from Government. The meeting was attended by representatives of Woodend School, the voluntary Fire Brigade, and community and sporting groups.

“At the meeting, residents tasked me to organise a public meeting with NZTA to respond to the community’s concerns,” Doocey said.

“The Woodend Bypass group wants to present to NZTA at that meeting all the safety issues residents face on a daily basis. They are asking the community to send in details of near misses, incidents and accidents, and safety, speed and congestion issues on SHI through Woodend and Pegasus,” Doocey said. 

Doocey has petitioned Government to save the bypass and Belfast to Pegasus motorway project after it was cancelled by Government.

“At my meeting, Simon Bridges confirmed National, if re-elected, would build the bypass. The bypass has always been a community-led vision and with our rapid growth after the earthquakes, something needs to be done now,” Doocey said.

Residents can email their experiences and concerns on SHI through Woodend and Pegasus to [email protected]