The Labour Party Government wants to build twin tunnels under the Waitemata Harbour as an alternative to the current Auckland Harbour bridge.
It would be partially replaced by two tunnels, one in each direction, for private vehicles and another set of tunnels for light rail between Albany and the city center, to be built much later.
Overall the plan will take decades to complete and will cost tens of billions of dollars.
Construction on the vehicle tunnels has a targeted start date of 2029 and will cost as much as $15 billion dollars. It would run between the central Auckland motorway junction and Akoranga on the North Shore.
The light rail tunnels would likely be built later and would cost $11 billion, plus another $16b to extend the line from Takapuna to Albany. The full package could cost up to $45 billion.
That could be partially funded by congestion charges, or value capture taxes — which is a targeted levy on landowners or developers who benefit from the project.
The light rail line could link up with the proposed line to the airport, if it goes ahead. Labour has recently sounded lukewarm on the project and National has promised to scrap it.
National has supported the construction of a second private vehicle Waitamata crossing, although it could choose to opt for a different option should it win the upcoming election.
Waka Kotahi was quoted in the Herald as having projected the tunnels would create a 275% increase in daily public transport trips by 2051, and allow 6,400 people to walk or cycle over the existing bridge.
Cycling advocates have previously petitioned Auckland Transport and Waka Kotahi to allow one lane for active transport, but were told it was not safe.
The twin tunnels would reduce the number of light vehicles using the existing Harbour Bridge by 64% and heavy vehicles by 57%.
Cyclists would be allowed on the existing clip-on lanes and two existing traffic lanes would become dedicated bus lanes.
Carbon emissions would drop by 2.1 million tonnes each year, but not until the light rail was up and running in 2051. That’s 28 years away from today.
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said this was a bold plan for Auckland’s future that would connect all parts of the city with modern transport options.
“Under this proposal the network will become joined up, allowing Aucklanders to travel from the north to the south, east and west on public transport - freeing up room on the existing Harbour Bridge and in the new road tunnel for those who want to drive,” he said.
The Harbour Bridge has been frequently closed due to high winds and the access from the North is vulnerable to flooding. Tunnels would help to make the network more resilient.
“We could afford the Harbour Bridge in 1959, when Auckland’s population was only 430,000, so we can afford a second crossing that will modernise transport for the city’s residents and the millions of people who visit every year,” Hipkins said.
The original bridge took four years to build and cost £7,516,000, which would be the equivalent of $414 million today. It was funded with a toll of 25 pence, or $13.79 in today’s money.
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