The government has made its position clearer on Auckland's $2 billion motorway project in Waterview, dropping the twin tunnel option.
It's a hot issue as candidates gear up for the Mt Albert's by-election next month, with the route running through the electorate.
The government has announced it's looking at three options. All will involve the demolition of some houses.
"We want to achieve the maximum level of community mitigation within the possible costs," says Steven Joyce, Transport Minister.
"I think I said at the time when we were going to reassess it that this was going to be an expensive road regardless for the country."
The government says all three options are more cost-effective than previously thought, all coming in under $1.4 billion.
A preferred plan will be announced on Wednesday.
Joyce says the NZ Transport Agency has identified more cost-effective options for the completion of Auckland's Western Ring Route, meaning the previous government's "expensive debt-funded twin tunnel option" will not go ahead.
In January the Minister asked officials to investigate alternative options for building the Waterview Connection after a business case prepared for the previous government released in December showed the total cost of the project would be $2.77 billion.
This was made up of $1.98 billion for construction of the tunnels, $240 million for associated work on State Highway 16 and $550 million for finance costs during the project construction period.
"The NZ Transport Agency has reviewed all options and has found that the Waterview Connection, together with the same amount of associated work on State Highway 16, can be built for considerably less, at an expected cost of between $1 billion and $1.4 billion, depending which of the options is taken," says Joyce.
He says all of the options being considered by the NZ Transport Agency would be built with wide enough shoulders to allow for easy widening to three lanes in each direction.
"The NZ Transport Agency's Board is meeting today to consider the three alternative options and will announce its preference tomorrow, once it has had the opportunity to make first contact with those directly affected.
"A thorough consultation process on the form of the selected option will then commence before a final decision is made."
Joyce says he is sorry the people of Waterview face further uncertainty while the design of the road is decided.
"I am working with the NZ Transport Agency to provide certainty as soon as possible. My preference is for a Waterview Connection that can be delivered at a fair price to the country with minimal ongoing impact on the community."
The Waterview Connection is part of one of the seven Roads of National Significance the government has singled out as essential routes that require priority treatment.
It is the last link to complete the Western Ring Route, linking Manukau, Auckland, Waitakere and North Shore while bypassing State highway One and the Auckland Harbour Bridge.
What do you think of the whole Waterview Connection project? What should happen now that the twin tunnel option has been dropped? Have your say on our message board below.
Provocative, unflinching, Thursday 9:30pm
Back Benches - giving politics back to the people
The way New Zealand wakes up weekdays, 6:30am
No one gets you closer, weeknights 7pm
Looking out for the little guy, Wednesday 7:30pm
Meet the people that bring you the news
TV ONE weekdays, 6am
The home of NZ politics - Sunday, 9am TV ONE
Where there's a story, we'll find it, Sunday 7:30pm
Te Karere, Maori News - 4pm weekdays, TV ONE
News on digital channel TVNZ 7
Advertising
post new comment
add to this thread
