Anzac Centenary Bridge Group Welcomes Inclusion of Harbour Crossing in National Infrastructure Plan; Calls for Construction Timeframe to Be Brought Forward

The ANZAC Centenary Bridge Group is delighted with the inclusion of a new harbour crossing for Auckland in the 20-year National Infrastructure Plan that was released today, but has called for the construction timeframe to be brought forward.

Group Chairman Richard Simpson said that the most encouraging element of the Plan was the Government’s commitment that a new bridge or tunnel/existing bridge hybrid would be considered as equal options for the next harbour crossing.

“The Government has made it clear that it has no preference, and that both options need to be studied further before a decision can be made,” said Mr Simpson. “That’s a pretty major shift in thinking, when you consider that six months ago the tunnel was the only option on the table.”

Mr Simpson was confident that a bridge would quickly be recognised as the only feasible solution.

“A new bridge would be significantly cheaper than a tunnel, and only a new bridge could be an iconic structure for Auckland,” he said.

“What’s more, our concept design for the ANZAC Centenary Bridge would carry more cars and trucks than the alternative and would provide for rail, cyclists and pedestrians. It dovetails perfectly with efforts to re-generate the waterfront, particularly the Wynyard Quarter, and would significantly raise Auckland’s international profile.”

Mr Simpson noted that polling released late last year by the Group clearly indicated that a bridge was the solution favoured by Aucklanders.

The Group was, however, concerned about the construction timeframes set out in the Plan, which indicated that work was unlikely to start on the harbour crossing until the second half of the 20-year period.

Instead, the Group is calling for construction of the new bridge to begin by 2015, to commemorate the ANZAC Day centenary.

“Delaying construction would be a costly mistake for Auckland and New Zealand,” said Mr Simpson.

“We’d lose an important chance to stand tall with Australia in commemorating the ANZAC Day Centenary, and we’d miss out on important economic benefits that the new bridge offers in terms of released real estate, tourism, travel time and distance savings, and job creation.”

“We’d also have to continue to rely on the old bridge, whose days are clearly numbered.”

The ANZAC Centenary Bridge Group consists of a number of well known local companies and organisations, including NZ Steel, Aspec Properties, the Returned Services’ Association, and the Heavy Engineering Research Association. It has received guidance on financial and technical matters from leading international consulting firms including Holmes Consulting, Davis Langdon, and others.

Representatives of the Group have had encouraging informal discussions on the ANZAC Centenary Bridge with Prime Minister John Key, Transport Minister Steven Joyce, Auckland MPs, and other government officials. The Group presented a paper to the NZTA Board last November.

Mr Simpson advised that the Group would continue to build the technical, financial and environmental case for the new bridge over the coming year.

“Our goal is not just to convince people that a new bridge must be built,” Mr Simpson explained, “but also to convince them of the benefits of starting construction sooner rather than later.”

ENDS

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