Nelson's new mayor Aldo Miccio says a new main road link into the city is unlikely to be built for many years.
Options for an improved arterial road were a major issue in the election, with communities along proposed routes at loggerheads over the idea.
Mr Miccio says that while he favours moving the state highway link from the waterfront to an inland route, that's a long way off, and would need government backing.
In the meantime, he says the regional land transport committee has other strategies to deal with traffic congestion.
