Transport Minister Michael Wood and Auckland Mayor Phil Goff.
MILL ROAD PROJECT SHOVED ASIDE The controversial widening and realignment of Mill Road in the Papakura/Alfriston district, now looks unlikely to go ahead despite being on government and council agendas for a number of years and even being announced as ‘shovel ready’ in 2020.
I
n mid 2021, the Government announced a budget blowout had stalled (and probably buried) the long awaited project, at least for the time being. In past years, Design & Build has published various plans put forth and has seen these altered and retrenched, despite the route being a key link to the east and usually heavily congested at peak commuter times. One of six projects from the NZ Upgrade Programme which won’t go ahead as planned because of the recent expensive cost blow outs, the rebuilding of Mill Road, was initially costed at $1.3 billion but in 2021 was recosted at $3.5 billion. So, instead of rebuilding the road, Transport Minister, Michael Wood has said that the Government would focus on important safety improvements to the road, upgrades to SH1 and rail, and new rail stations connected to public transport, walking and cycling infrastructure. Infrastructure Minister, Grant Robertson, added that the changes represented a “balanced approach”. “Fully funding the new estimated costs for every project (six in total) would have cost up to $6 billion extra on top of the original $6.8 billion, so instead we’ve taken a balanced approach with a mix of additional investment and a handful of projects being re-scoped while also keeping a lid on debt,” he said. As it stands, this vital link to east Auckland, which was also seen as a way to relieve congestion on the Southern Motorway, may well continue to remain clogged at peak traffic times during the week. Furthermore, with exponential growth occurring in Takanini – townhouses and terraces style housing now covering a vast tract of land in the vicinity of Mill Road and adjoining Cosgrove Road – the route may well be more heavily used than ever. It remains to be seen if an upgrade, considered essential by many commuters especially as direct links to the east from the south are limited, will go ahead in the future, particularly if there is a change of government.
City Rail Link: GREAT DAME DIGS – AND PHIL’S IN! Politics may bore many people but, when politicians lent a helping hand to set wheels in motion for Auckland’s City Rail Link, (ironically) ‘boring’ was far from boring.
“T
he official start of tunnelling represents an important milestone on Auckland’s journey towards providing a world-class, 21st century transport network,” Auckland Mayor, Phil Goff, said of the official 2021 launch of the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM), named Dame Whina Cooper – who was far from boring! The tunnels will play a vital role in the overall City Rail Link, ‘on track’ until (and in another way, after) completion in late 2024. The link is also expected to ease pressure on the beleaguered road network, which should be great news for local commuters who work in the city. Although the first 50 metres of tunnel at the Mt Eden site had already been mined, the TBM is now at work excavating the remainder of the 1.6km tunnel which will run under the motorway and connect
with the CRL (City Rail Link) tunnels already constructed from the Britomart Station. “When complete, the City Rail Link will transform rail travel in Tamaki Makaurau,” Mr Goff believes. “It will carry up to 54,000 people an hour, moving the equivalent capacity of three Auckland Harbour Bridges or 16 extra traffic lanes into and through the city at peak times.” Joined by another boring enthusiast, Transport Minister Michael Wood, Mr Goff pressed a button to start the machine in early May 2021. Such ‘shovel-ready’ projects also provide further benefits, Mr Wood added. “Building infrastructure like the City Rail Link is part of our Covid-19 economic plan – this project is providing real jobs and opportunities for thousands of Aucklanders. It’ll give us a step-change in our public transport and cultivate a diverse and highly-skilled workforce.”
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