News release

North Shore mayor urges push for third crossing

Friday, 4 May 2007

North Shore City mayor George Wood says it’s time to take a closer look at plans to build a third harbour crossing.

Transit NZ has announced that it proposes to ban trucks from using the outside clip on lanes of the bridge, in a move to extend its life.

Mr Wood says the community wants to see some solutions proposed for a third crossing, and has asked whether planning should be brought forward, as the bridge is vital not just to North Shore City, but to the whole region.

With the region’s population and industry growth predicted to continue well into the future, it’s time to pull the plans onto the front burner, he says, and he is urging a strong political push to get things moving.

North Shore City and regional planners have been considering options for a bridge or tunnel and access routes. These options have a possible $3billion price tag for a crossing that parallels the existing bridge, which is vulnerable to blockages caused by accidents and to deliberate or accidental damage.

“This is a major issue for the people of Auckland – and of course the funding will have to be carefully considered”, says Mr Wood.

He says the proposal needs the involvement of various parties – as finalising the alignment is vital, as planning, design and construction will take many years.

North Shore city in 2003 stated its opposition to building a further harbour crossing between North Shore City and Auckland City if it is primarily for private motor vehicles. The city also supported further investigation of a crossing for public transport but with provision for emergency vehicles, freight and multi-passenger vehicles. It also strongly preferred a tunnel rather than a bridge.

However in light of this new information about the bridge, Mayor Wood intends to formally promote greater political engagement with other parties involved, which include Transit NZ, Auckland City Council, Auckland Regional Council, and Auckland Regional Transport Authority. He says North Shore City has enjoyed an excellent relationship with these authorities, especially in relation to the city’s Northern Busway project and would like to replicate the process.

He also proposes a workshop involving his own city councillors to kick start the third crossing initiative.

“A third crossing would be the Auckland region’s biggest-ever project – but we have to get on with it. It’s been in the too hard basket for too long.”

Mr Wood says that if trucks are to be confined only to the middle lanes of the bridge, this could become a bottleneck for commerce, and it’s time to review the use of the bridge and any third crossing and the transport modes that will mostly use them.

Mr Wood says rail and its engineering cost must be looked at as part of the scoping process as it’s recognised that currently the access motorways on both sides of the harbour are overloaded and alternative routes and transport modes must be considered.

The city has also confirmed its support for additional ferry services, more efficient use of existing road, bridge, and rail connections, and the development of the upper harbour (State Highway 18) motorway as key elements of an integrated solution to Auckland's transport problems.

ENDS

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