Whenuapai - Wood Shorely beat Mangere
March 23, 2006

North Shore City Mayor George Wood says an airport at Whenuapai must seem like a beautiful dream for Shore commuters battling lengthening delays to catch their flights at Mangere.

Roadworks at Mangere bridge are further slowing traffic crawling towards the region’s international airport, says Mr Wood, who estimates a quarter of those motorists are trekking south from north of Auckland’s harbour bridge.

A supporter of the Waitakere City-championed Whenuapai air base upgrade, George Wood says the worsening traffic situation highlights the folly of reliance on the airport in south Auckland.

“If the Government had given the green light to a joint civilian-military airport at Whenuapai when it had the chance, we’d at least have relief in sight.

“Whenuapai gives travel choices to more than half a million people who live within 15km of what is already a fully functioning international airport.”

Mr Wood is calling on the government to take another look at the Whenuapai proposal which he calls an overdue monopoly buster.

“Travel times to Mangere are getting longer and some people are being caught in traffic and not catching their flights.

“With the advent of a four-lane upper harbour motorway from North Shore City, west-bound trips to Whenuapai airport would lessen southbound congestion through Spaghetti Junction and way down to Mangere.”

ENDS

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