Government to spend up to $2 bln restoring Kaikoura coastal route

Government to spend up to $2 bln restoring Kaikoura coastal route
Paul McBeth
By Paul McBeth Dec. 15 (BusinessDesk) - The government expects to spend as much as $2 billion rebuilding the coastal route north and south of the stranded North Canterbury town of Kaikoura, and wants access restored within a year.  Transport Minister Simon Bridges confirmed the government will inject extra funding to accelerate the process of repairing the state highway and rail corridor and improving the safety and resilience of the route, he said in a statement. The cost is estimated at between $1.4 billion and $2 billion, and an Order...