A resilient highway corridor is needed through the Remutaka Hill Ranges to connect Wellington with the Wairarapa and East Coastal area. For every time that the current road is closed as a result of poor weather or a deterioration in geological conditions, the surrounding areas are affected drastically economically and socially. This section of State Highway is also a critical link for freight transport from the Hawkes Bay and Wairarapa to the Cook Strait Ferry and vice versa. Investing in a long lasting, high quality transport corridor will ensure the uninterrupted flow of traffic and freight through the lower North Island whilst providing extra opportunities for economic enhancement to the Wairarapa region for generations to come.