Church seeks Basin flyover silence during services

CONCEPT: A photo from the simulation video of the planned Basin Bridge flyover.

A top NZ Transport Agency boss has defended the aims of a proposed flyover near the Basin Reserve.

At a board of inquiry, NZTA Wellington state highways manager Rod James said the project's objectives included boosting the reliability and efficiency of State Highway 1, improved safety and better access to Wellington Airport, Wellington Hospital and the city centre.

The project would also ease congestion, while supporting regional economic growth, he said.

"We see this [area] as a major constraint on the Wellington region and it's overdue for improvement," James said.

A four-member board is considering the agency's resource consent application to build a two-lane flyover, 20 metres north of the Basin Reserve.

The eight-week hearing has entered its fourth day.

Lawyer Philip Milne, representing the Architecture Centre and Newtown Residents Association, questioned how beneficial the project would be if a proposal to duplicate the Mt Victoria tunnel did not go ahead.

He asked why the two proposals were not merged into one project.

"Some people are going to have to through this all again," Milne said.

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Church seeks Basin flyover silence during services