Auckland Regional Office

9 September 2005

Media Release

New bus shoulder lanes open on the Northwestern motorway

Commuting by bus to and from the west of Auckland is now a whole lot easier with the opening of new bus shoulder lanes along the Northwestern Motorway (SH16) today.

Transit New Zealand celebrated the opening of the 1.3km-long bus shoulder lanes positioned on each side of the Northwestern Motorway between Great North Road (Waterview) and Rosebank interchanges.

The Hon. Judith Tizard and Transit New Zealand Capital Projects Manager, Northern, Peter Spies opened the lanes with a ceremonial ribbon cutting. Also present were members of Ritchies and Stagecoach bus operators.

Peter Spies says the work is part of Transit’s overall strategy of increasing bus priorities on Auckland’s motorway network. “Western suburb commuters will really the feel the benefit as these lanes allow buses to bypass slow moving traffic during peak hours and provide fast, efficient public transport options,” says Mr Spies.

City-bound bus priority lanes already exist between Lincoln Road and Te Atatu Road, and Patiki Road and Rosebank Road.

Mr Spies says more bus priority lanes are planned for the Northwestern Motorway including an afternoon peak lane from Rosebank off-ramp to Patiki on-ramp and a morning peak lane from Te Atatu North on-ramp to Whau Bridge citybound. As part of the Central Motorway upgrading project, provision for an outward-bound shoulder lane for buses will be made along the motorway from Newton to St Lukes.

North of the Harbour Bridge Transit is involved in a major public transport initiative with the construction of the Northern Busway which, when completed, will run from Albany to Britomart. A study is also underway to assess further bus priorities from Constellation Drive to Orewa on SH1.

ENDS

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