Fast-Tracking Of Manukau Harbour Crossing Project Supported By Airport

After years of little progress to ease the traffic bottleneck over the Manukau Harbour, it is welcome news that Transit New Zealand is giving the second Manukau Harbour crossing project top priority and aiming to lodge its consent application by April next year, says Don Huse, chief executive of Auckland International Airport.

He notes, "A recently completed study on land transport access to the airport has identified the Mangere Bridge over the Manukau Harbour as a significant bottleneck for air travellers, especially those arriving on or catching flights during Auckland's peak traffic hours.

"The airport strongly backs Transit's decision to give priority to completing the Western Ring Route and especially increasing capacity across the Manukau Harbour crossing. $B!I (J

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Information for journalists:

- Further information on the Auckland Airport Access Study can be found via the airport's website: www.auckland-airport.co.nz/corporate/airport_access_study.php

- At present, 81,000 vehicles a day enter the airport area. The Access Study forecast that that number will increase by around 90 percent in the next ten years.

- The second Manukau Harbour Crossing at Mangere will form an integral part of the SH20 western ring route which, when complete, will transport people from SH1 in the south to SH16 in West Auckland. This will create a fast and easy-to-use transport link and bring Auckland's transport system closer to completion.

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