Skip to main content

Has the Government applied the fourth-power law relationship between axle load and pavement damage, as used in NZ Transport Agency Research Report 603, to model the accelerated deterioration that would result from the proposed weight limit increases; if so, what increase in equivalent standard axle loadings is projected across the network?

Answered Question 17981 (2026)
Question published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • Has the Government applied the fourth-power law relationship between axle load and pavement damage, as used in NZ Transport Agency Research Report 603, to model the accelerated deterioration that would result from the proposed weight limit increases; if so, what increase in equivalent standard axle loadings is projected across the network?

Answered by

Hon Chris Bishop

Member for Hutt South · National Party · Minister of Transport

Answer

The Government is considering a range of options and final decisions have not yet been made. I am advised that officials have used the fourth-power law in their analysis to support decision-making