Working with Transit New Zealand

Additional Waitemata Harbour crossing

Background

Auckland City Council has been working with Transit New Zealand, Auckland Regional Council, Auckland Regional Transport Authority and North Shore City Council to identify a preferred option for an additional transport link across the Waitemata Harbour.

The aim of the study is to enable the region to protect a route for the potential future crossing, before the waterfront area is redeveloped.

Last December, a shortlist of three options was chosen, from a long list of 159 possible options.

Shortlisted options

Option 1: Esmonde to Britomart

Passenger transport only, in a new tunnel or on a new bridge between Esmonde and Britomart, with possible connections at Onewa and Wynyard.
General traffic on the existing Auckland Harbour Bridge.
Walking and cycling on either a new bridge or the existing Auckland Harbour Bridge (with appropriate modifications to the existing bridge).

Option 2: Esmonde to Britomart and SH16

Passenger transport in either a new tunnel or on a new bridge across the harbour, with tunnels to landside connections between Esmonde and Britomart. Possible connections at Onewa and Wynyard.
General traffic in either a new tunnel or on a new bridge (as well as on the existing bridge) with tunnels to landside connections between Esmonde and SH16 at either Wellington Street (Port and Westbound) or Newton (Westbound only). Possible connections at Onewa and Wynyard.
Walking and cycling on either a new bridge or the existing Auckland Harbour Bridge (with appropriate modifications to the existing bridge).

Option 3: Esmonde to Britomart and Grafton

Passenger transport in a new tunnel between Esmonde and Britomart with a possible connection at Onewa.
General traffic in a new tunnel between Esmonde and Grafton (as well as on the existing bridge) with a possible connection at Onewa.
Walking and cycling on the existing Auckland Harbour Bridge (with appropriate modifications to the existing bridge).

What happens next?

On 2 May, the Waitemata Crossing Study team released a summary of the consultant's report (1,803kb PDF) recommending a preferred route. The recommended option comprises four tunnels - two for trains and two for the motorway - east of Auckland Harbour Bridge. The Central Motorway Junction on the isthmus would link to the Northern Motorway, while the suburban rail network could in future be extended northward from the Auckland central business district to the North Shore. See the map of the recommended option (202kb PDF)

The council is still considering the three options and the consultant's recommendation before making a decision on its preferred choice.

Detailed designs, construction costs, timelines and funding have not been considered as part of this study and further work will be needed to address these issues at a later stage. Public consultation will also take place once a single preferred option has been agreed.

For more information visit www.transit.govt.nz.

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