New Nelson Street cycleway illuminates way towards a “Super” city This morning the new cycleway known as Te Ara Whiti was opened by the Minister of Transport Simon Bridges … Continue reading ‘Te Ara Whiti’ the Lightpath opens for cyclists and walkers. Opportunity for Wider Roll-out Across #BetterAuckland
First major piece of upgrade to start over Summer break As some might be aware NZTA have started the Southern Motorway southern corridor upgrades which give six lanes from … Continue reading Southern Motorway Upgrade Gathers Pace #BetterAuckland
New joint project for shared path to link up east Auckland From the Office of the Mayor New shared path shows city’s transport turnaround This afternoon’s ground breaking for … Continue reading New Cycle Path to Connect Glen Innes With Tamaki Drive (and City Centre)
From Auckland Council and NZTA:
The NZ Transport Agency’s $268 million project extends from Manukau to Papakura along State Highway 1 and will improve safety and journey reliability on Auckland’s Southern Motorway.
Leighton Contractors will start establishment work from November with construction beginning in February.
Project completion is expected in 2018. However, extra southbound lanes will be completed in early 2017 to coincide with the opening of the Waterview tunnel and ensure there’s capacity for additional traffic entering SH1 from SH20.
NZ Transport Agency’s Auckland Highways Manager, Brett Gliddon, says the project is a critical piece of the network which supports current investment in the Western Ring Route and the regional connections south of Auckland.
“The Southern Corridor is a key route connecting Auckland to the rest of the country. The project will support the rapid population growth that is expected in south Auckland over the next 30 years, while meeting the immediate needs of the city.”
Walking and cycling improvements will also form a key part of the project.
Environmental benefits include low impact and sustainable stormwater treatment methods, salt marsh restoration at the Pahurehure Inlet and significant planting to incorporate eco-sourced indigenous species.
The Southern Corridor Improvements project includes:
• Southbound widening – to 4 lanes between SH20 and Hill Road and to 3 lanes between Hill Road and Papakura
• Northbound widening – to 3 lanes from Papakura to Takanini
• Takanini Interchange upgrade
• Upgrade of 16 existing bridges and construction of six new structures
• A new 4.5km walking and cycleway
• New LED lighting
Excellent to have this much needed project under way with it due for completion by 2018. As a regular user of the Takanini Interchange I know it is a dog and a safety hazard when attempting to enter the motorway city bound. Thus having the upgrade done will at least make that part of the journey better.
From Stuff:
Last updated 16:16, October 15 2015
Work on widening the Southern Motorway between Manukau and Papakura is about to begin.
Transport Minister Simon Bridges will mark the start of construction on October 21 by turning the first sod near Pescara Point Reserve in Karaka.
The Southern Corridor Improvements project will see lanes added from the SH20-SH1 interchange at Manukau south to Papakura and north from Papakura to Takanini.
The Takanini interchange will also be redesigned to improve safety and access to the motorway. It will include a freight lane and new ramps.
The Government earmarked $210 million in the 2014 budget for the project.
….
Construction is expected to be completed by 2018.
Go to nzta.govt.nz/auckland-southern-corridor to see the plans and details.
About time given the issues with the Takanini Interchange as it is right now.
Spinoff sought some experts to comment We know Question Time for NZ Parliament is nothing but a drag especially to the cut and thrust of Australian Question Time. Spinoff went … Continue reading How to Fix Question Time in Parliament? [UPDATED]
NZTA (New Zealand Transport Agency) has recently briefed new Transport Minister Simon Bridges of activities the organisation is up to and keeping an eye on presently and for the future. This Briefing Incoming Ministers (or BiM) is routine and occurs after an election or when a Minister changes over for that respective Ministry.
Of note I did pick the up the following in regards to the City Rail Link from NZTA:
5.8 CITY RAIL LINK – AUCKLAND
Auckland Council and Auckland Transport are continuing to plan, design and acquire property for the City Rail Link. The City Rail Link is now being delivered in two distinct parts.
Phase One is the enabling works to build two rail tunnels between Britomart under Queen Street and the Downtown Shopping Centre, and a ‘cut and cover’ tunnel under Albert Street as far as Wyndham Street. The enabling works are planned for 2016 to 2017 to coincide with the planned
redevelopment of the Downtown Shopping Centre by Precinct Properties Ltd. Auckland Council is budgeting between $240 million and $250 million for these works. The aim is to complete the enabling works before the World Masters Games in April 2017. We think this is a sensible sequencing of enabling works which will minimise disruption of critical intersections in the CBD, and enable compliance with the planning conditions that only one intersection can be out of action at any one time. A more compact construction schedule at a later time would prove too disruptive.
Phase Two is the tunnel boring machine and station building stages of the project. This phase could start as early as 2018 and be completed by 2022 at a cost of around $2 billion. Design and procurement decisions for this phase could be taken progressively from 2015/16 onwards, but are dependent on future funding decisions and commitments. The Crown is not currently an active partner in the City Rail Link project implementation. The government has signalled it will only consider being a funding partner to enable a construction start in 2020, or possibly earlier if certain patronage or other targets are achieved. The risk of not being involved in these early stages is that the key elements of the project get determined in the meantime. If the Crown is to be a future funding partner it needs a mechanism to identify options and risks around planning, design, procurement and financing. We have experience in complex infrastructure projects of the scale of the City Rail Link. One mechanism to help manage Crown risk could be for the Transport Agency to become a technical partner with Auckland Transport in developing the City Rail Link. This would be consistent with the one transport system arrangements that have been forged with Auckland Transport and Auckland Council over the last 3-4 years.
…….
Source: http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/briefing-for-incoming-minister/docs/briefing-to-incoming-minister-2014.pdf (page 25)
Minister Simon Bridges talks about the two phases to NewsTalk ZB earlier today: Simon Bridges: Auckland’s City Rail Link.
So it seems the Minister is quite warm to the City Rail Link being split into two phases as NZTA has recommended insofar as the Minister has given his blessing for phase one to begin (that is the enabling works) as soon as Council has its own finances sorted.
As for Phase Two the Minister right at the end of the interview gave a one word answer that all things lined up and considered, would allow this phase of the CRL to begin in 2018.
All this would bring the City Rail Link two-phase operation in line with what Councillor Linda Cooper tried to get through in the Budget Committee last week (Analysis on The Budget Committee Day One) which to me would have been a good “fail safe” device knowing the Government is holding firm to 2020. However, and rather stupidly the majority of the Budget Committee led by the Mayor are holding fast to whole hogging the CRL from 2016 no matter what.
For me and as noted in three City Rail Link podcasts what NZTA has proposed is a good Best of Both Worlds solution and would be entirely consistent with my calling to start the CRL around the 2017/2018 start date. That said it would be my stance over the last three years (when I last updated it from my original Auckland Plan submission) slightly updated to allow the enabling works so that we are in sync with the Precinct Property development in Downtown Auckland.
So NZTA has moved first and we have a Minister giving his blessing to the enabling works at the minimum while warm to Phase Two starting 2018 all things considered. Now would be a very good idea for Council to agree to the NZTA two-phase operation for the sanctity of the City Rail Link. In other words for an inflexible Mayor to be come a tad more flexible.
The Weekend Analysis – Capacity and Frequencies open with The City Rail Link
From Voxy
Auckland’s newest road is expected to take thousands of trucks a day off Panmure roads when it opens to traffic in early November.
Auckland Transport will open the 1.5km Te Horeta Rd in Panmure to traffic on Sunday 2 November. The road goes through a 220m tunnel, has new cycle lanes and a shared cycle and foot path alongside, which will all open at the same time.
A community event will be held on Saturday 1 November so people in the area can walk or cycle through the tunnel, along the road and on the shared path.
Completing the new road is the final major milestone for the $180m first stage of the Auckland Manukau Eastern Transport Initiative (AMETI). It also included building the new Panmure Station, three new bridges and new cycling and walking links.
AMETI is a group of projects aimed at giving people in the south-eastern suburbs improved transport choices and better connections to the rest of Auckland. See an aerial video and photos of the new road, station and other upgrades here: at.govt.nz/projects-roadworks/ameti/.
Auckland Transport Chairman, Dr Lester Levy says completing the first stage of AMETI will be an important milestone for transport improvements in the area.
“People in the area are beginning to realise the benefits of the longer term programme of improvements for the south east. It is also one of the first major transport infrastructure projects to be completed by Auckland Transport since the new Auckland Council was established.”
AMETI Programme Director, Peter King says the new road is expected to carry 20,000 vehicles a day, including 2400 trucks.
“Te Horeta Road will link Morrin Rd to Mt Wellington Highway to cut peak journey times between Mt Wellington and Glen Innes.The direct link will bypass the Panmure roundabout and Ellerslie-Panmure Highway, easing congestion on this route.
…..
Full details, article and source: http://www.voxy.co.nz/national/walk-or-cycle-aucklands-new-road-and-tunnel-panmure/5/204559
Now to get Part Two under-way. The Busway from Panmure Station to Pakuranga Town Centre. Parts Three and beyond would be extending that bus way to Botany and Manukau City Centre forming the South Eastern Bus-way. In due time it can be converted to rail to form the Botany Line (The Botany Line Sky Train)
A Look at the Six Options As mentioned in the NZTA and AT Seek Feedback on East-West Connections, NZTA are seeking feedback on the six options in improving the links between … Continue reading Closer Look at the NZTA East West Connections
Lets have a chat about the North Western Busway Amongst other things the Auckland Development Committee is talking about the North Western Bus Way. From the Auckland Development Committee … Continue reading Auckland Development Committee Talks Bus-Way
Talking Southern Auckland 