January 30, 2009

Western Ring Route must be completed
 

 "The Western Ring Route must be completed as this project is a strategic regional and national priority." says North Shore Mayor Andrew Williams

The Government has ordered an investigation into alternatives for the Waterview Connection between Mt Roskill and the Northwestern Motorway following a major budget blowout taking the cost of the project from $1.89 billion to $2.77 billion.  

"We need to complete this alternate ring road to bypass central Auckland as soon as possible and answers need to be given as to how this will be achieved." says Mayor Williams. "Questions most certainly need to be asked as to the blowout in cost estimates, but regardless of this, this vital project must be completed one way or another. We have already completed many other sections of this motorway ring route, and this vital last link cannot be left as the achilles heal of the Auckland motorway network".

"The Auckland Harbour Bridge is extremely vulnerable and needs relief from the pressure of huge volumes of traffic, in particular heavy trucks moving up and down the central spine of Auckland. We are at great risk that the Harbour Bridge will deteriorate faster than is anticipated, and increased restrictions on this vital bridge artery could result in increased traffic gridlock. It has about 20 years life left in the clip-ons so this alternate route needs to be completed with haste."

"The Western Ring Route has been planned for decades, and it is no longer a question of whether it is needed....it is an absolute imperative. The population of this region is heading towards 1.5 million, and being reliant so heavily on State Highway One is no longer acceptable. It also impacts on the flow of goods and services from Northland and from south of Auckland who need this significant bypass." says Mayor Williams.

"The Government keeps saying that Auckland is not working and needs fixing. In reality, if we really face facts, what really needs fixing is the road and motorway network, public transport and key regional infrastructure. The Transport Minister and Government cannot shy away from what has been a critical path decision, taking many years to get to this point, to complete the Western Ring Route or we most certainly will not fix Auckland's problems".

 
-ENDS-

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