The Transport Agency has issued the findings of public consultation on the Transmission Gully proposal, which show 88.6% support an inland highway north of Wellington.
Of the 2,411 responses received last year on the highway proposal, only 7% opposed the route, while 4% said they did not mind.
Last year, the agency said the route would cost more than $1 billion.
Work is under way to prepare resource consent applications.
Councils are preparing a regional funding plan to present to the Government by the end of the year to meet a funding shortfall.