Auckland City Council
Media release

3 September 2009

Grafton Bridge to offer faster bus travel

Grafton Bridge will reopen on 5 October as a dedicated bus, pedestrian and cycling, and emergency vehicle route between 7am and 7pm, Monday to Friday.

Outside of these times, the bridge will be open to normal traffic.

Auckland City Council’s Transport Committee today reaffirmed a decision about the 99-year-old bridge’s operation, first made by the previous Transport Committee in 2004.

Auckland Mayor, Hon. John Banks, says the early completion of strengthening work on the bridge, and larger Central Connector project, is a milestone in the council’s transport plans. “I am pleased to be able to give Aucklanders faster, more reliable a bus travel between our two largest commercial hubs, the city centre and Newmarket,” says Mr Banks.

This decision was made after consultation with the Grafton community and a joint traffic study by the council and Auckland Regional Transport Authority (ARTA).

Sixty-five thousand bus passengers will use this route daily.

Transport Committee chairperson, Councillor Ken Baguley says ARTA and the New Zealand Transport Authority (NZTA) – also major funders of the project – both strongly support the decision.

“It is standard practice for the council to monitor and evaluate all new bus lanes to ensure they are operating at maximum efficiency,” says Mr Baguley.

Some buses services will begin using the route immediately with more to be added in early 2010. The bus lanes are planned to reach full capacity by February 2010.

ENDS

© Scoop Media