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Auckland Councillor John Watson says that planned improvements by the NZ Transport Agency to the Northern Motorway will benefit all those Hibiscus Coast residents who travel south each day.
He says the improvements will also provide the Coast with a faster, less congested route to the airport (via the Western Ring route and the new Waterview Tunnel that will open next year).
Planning and community feedback is well advanced by the Transport Agency for major motorway and public transport improvements in and around the Northern Motorway.
Early this month the Council voted to potentially speed up the delivery of these improvements through referral of the project to a Board of Inquiry process as well as confirming Auckland Council’s capacity to process the matter if required. Next year detailed designed and construction planning is to begin. Construction on the project is being staged. The Transport Agency aims to have the Northern Corridor fully complete by 2021.
The changes include additional motorway lanes in both directions on the Northern Motorway between Greville Road and Constellation Drive.
“Anyone travelling south from the Coast, especially in rush hour, knows that the biggest hold up occurs from Greville Road through to Constellation Drive when the traffic comes to a grinding halt,” Cr Watson says. “The improvements planned by the NZ Transport Agency will deal to this gridlock.”
Cr Watson says there’s also good news for locals travelling on the bus – an extension of the Northern Busway from Constellation Bus Station to Albany Bus Station, will speed up travelling times. Auckland Transport is also investigating the possibility of building a new bus station and Park and Ride close to Rosedale Road (similar to Smales Farm).
Cr Watson says that the planned motorway link to the Western Ring Route will provide the Hibiscus Coast with a faster route to the airport via the new Waterview tunnel, as well as direct access for anyone travelling west.
“Coast residents will benefit directly from this major project which begins construction in 2018,” Cr Watson says.
