Category: Transport Planning

Looking at Transport Planning and Design

Weekend Transport Open Mic

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Leave Your Comments

 

This weekend as we know Auckland is hosting a series of events (NRL 9’s, The Rapture Concert last night, and the Lantern Festival) which is causing pressure on our transport system (private and public).

I am hearing both positive and negative comments from yesterday and no doubt today. Just to put it out there by 3pm yesterday Britomart Station had “processed” 17,000 people through the Gate-Line that were heading OUTBOUND. The numbers do not include inbound or Line Transfers (Eastern Line to Western Line as an example). That is record-breaking numbers – even breaking the Rugby World Cup opening night (a night I tend to forget).

 

That said I am opening this post for your comments and feedback from the weekend events on transport. Whether on the road, waiting for a bus, or on the train this weekend leave your comments below. Please remember The Rules when posting. Also if you are a first time commenter your comments are held in moderation until I approve or reject them. Once approved you are free to comment on the blog.

 

So I leave the mic to you. Auckland Council and Auckland Transport do watch the blog so no doubt they will see your comments. Again play the ball not the man please in your comments. I am off to hit the South Western Motorway to avoid Southern Motorway traffic so wish me luck there.

 

Over to you – the reader.

 

More News on the East West Link

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Options One, Two and Three seem to be abandoned

 

I caught this from the Respect our Community Campaign Facebook page:

Respect Our Community Campaign – ROCC

MORE GOOD NEWS!!

Via Donna, we have just heard from Maungakiekie Local Board chairman, Simon Randall that Auckland Transport have dropped plans to push their motorway through the northern foreshore of Manukau Harbour and Panama/Riverside! Great news … here is his email:

I have just gotten off the phone with Auckland Transport who has confirmed that the focus of the east west link will be between SH20 and SH1 on the northern side of the Mangere Inlet, meaning that initial suggestions that there may be new motorway connections through the Panama Road area are no longer going to be pursued. I hope that this is good news for you, the Local Board has pushed for this to be abandoned for some time and are pleased it now has been abandoned.

There may still be some minor works associated in the area to support the East West Link, these have yet to be developed but I have made it clear that the Panama Road / Riverside Community to be well engaged on this project and have urged early discussions with residents such as yourselves…etc etc

—-ends—-

That is news indeed.

So the question is – where next?

 

Last Part of the Western Ring Route Contracts Awarded

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Contract Awarded for St Lukes Road Interchange to Great North Road Interchange of the North Western Motorway

 

I do not usually run NZTA media releases but this one I will as it shows we are nearly there with the completion of the long awaited Western Ring Route.

From NZTA:

Contract award for next stage of Western Ring Route

5 Feb 2014 04:35pm | NZ Transport Agency: Auckland and Northland

The contract to construct the next stage of Auckland’s Western Ring Route – upgrading the Northwestern Motorway (State Highway 16) between the St Lukes Road and Great North Road interchanges – has been awarded to the Australian-based infrastructure company, Leighton Contractors.

The $70m project is jointly funded by the NZ Transport Agency and Auckland Transport.

A two kilometre-long section of the motorway will be widened from three to four lanes in each direction.  There will also be improvements to the motorway ramps and the St Lukes Road -Great North Road intersection, while the St Lukes Road overbridge spanning the motorway will be widened to benefit drivers, walkers and cyclists.

The Transport Agency’s Highways Manager, Tommy Parker, says this is the last of six projects to connect the Northwestern and Southwestern (SH20) motorways.

“The upgrade is part of our programme to get our network ready for the increased volume of traffic when the Waterview tunnels connecting the Northwestern and Southwestern (SH20) motorways are completed in early 2017,” Mr Parker says.

Work is due to start in mid-autumn and be completed by late 2016.   The other projects to connect the two motorways are the upgrade of the Maioro Street interchanges (SH20) which is completed, and the upgrade of the Lincoln and Te Atatu interchanges, the Causeway Upgrade Project, and the Waterview Connection, which are all under construction.

“Leightons bring plenty of infrastructure experience to the St Lukes project. The company is part of the Causeway alliance, and has been involved in some of our biggest Auckland developments including the Northern Gateway Toll Road and the Newmarket Viaduct Replacement Project.” Mr Parker says.

The Western Ring Route is a Road of National Significance, and will provide a 47km-long alternative to SH1 between Albany and Manukau.  It will improve safety and city and regional transport connections for people and freight.

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Source: http://www.nzta.govt.nz/about/media/releases/3170/news.html

 

It will be good to have the entire project finished as for one I would be using it as the main highway between my place on Papakura and my mum’s place in Te Atatu (thus skipping the CBD and Central Motorway junction).

I was thinking once the Western Ring Route is fully completed, should it be converted to State Highway One with State Highway 20 taking the Manukau to CBD section while State Highway 18 taking the CBD to Albany section. State Highway one was always designed to be the inter-city and inter-regional road link with the State Highways 20, 16 and 18 being the intra-regional highways. So with the Western Ring Route soon to be completed and serving as the primary inter-regional route for cars and road freight (as it will by-pass the Harbour Bridge and the CBD) I believe it should carry the State Highway One shield.

I also noted this from the release:

The Western Ring Route is a Road of National Significance, and will provide a 47km-long alternative to SH1 between Albany and Manukau.  It will improve safety and city and regional transport connections for people and freight.

Manukau and Albany – the two touted Super Metropolitan Centres of Auckland serving as regional people, commerce, freight and industrial service (for Manukau) hubs for their areas and partnering areas (Manukau with the Northern Waikato and Albany for Northland). Both Super Metropolitan Centres sit on the two boundaries of the Western Ring Route.