Increased NZTA funding programme welcomed - but vital 'cross city' projects remain unfunded

Provision of funding for the design and construction start on the SH20 Waterview project was today welcomed by Auckland Business Form chairman, Michael Barnett.

The Waterview link will complete the 46 km Western Ring Route motorway linking Manukau and North Shore through Auckland’s western suburbs and will enable improved productivity and around $830 million of additional growth benefits a year.

Mr Barnett also strongly welcomed the confirmation of funding to work withy Rugby World Cup 2011 organisers to provide transport improvements for moving the expected 62,000 rugby fans around Auckland during the event.

Despite Auckland’s share of funding increasing by $613 million to around 32% of the national total, Mr Barnett was disappointed that there was still no provision for the vital east-west link between SH1 at Mt Wellington and SH20 at Onehunga.

“The Neilson Street corridor carries more freight and other business traffic than many of the region’s state highways, and is heavily congested most days.”

Both NZTA and Auckland City have talked about improving the route over many years. “Once again the project appears to have fallen between the cracks. Auckland’s long-planned basic road network won’t be completed until this critical weakness is fixed and needs to be vigorously promoted,” he concluded.