A report on the proposed Matakana Link Road has found it could cost nearly $40 million.
Auckland Transport (AT) is planning to build the road by 2022 to coincide with the completion of the Puhoi to Warkworth motorway.
The road will create an alternative route between Matakana and SH1, bypassing the Hill Street intersection, linking from the end of the Puhoi to Warkworth motorway, north of Warkworth to Matakana Road.
In a report to the Rodney Local Board, AT roading group manager Andrew Scoggins says the project will cost between $25.5 million and $39.5 million, depending on whether it is built as a rural or urban road. In any case, it will likely have to be upgraded to an urban road in the future, as the land is zoned Future Urban.
Acquiring the property is expected to cost $10 million. The road will require 12ha of land, affecting seven landowners and nine properties – three properties will be completely affected, while six will be partially affected.
AT notes that it is “unlikely that all owners will be willing sellers and AT may need to initiate compulsory acquisition under the Public Works Act”.
Detailed design should be completed in the next financial year, with construction starting in 2018/19.
A more detailed plan for the road will be released later this year, with consultation expected to start next February.
The report says the link road project was identified as the top transport priority during consultation on future projects in the region earlier this year.
AT is also investigating a road linking Matakana and Sandspit roads.
