Auckland Airport reveals plans for four new projects to improve travel around terminals

An artist's impression of the "iconic" new gateway pedestrian and cycle bridge to be built over George Bolt Memorial Drive to connect the hotel and commercial precinct with airport terminals. Image / Supplied

Auckland Airport has today announced the details of four new transport projects as part of its longer-term plan to improve travel around the airport over the next three years.

"We have a 30-year plan for developing Auckland Airport and, as part of the plan, ensuring that passengers, staff and crew can easily access all parts of the airport precinct remains a priority," said Auckland Airport chief executive Adrian Littlewood.

"These new transport projects are an important investment in our infrastructure that will help to improve the way public transport users, motorists, pedestrians and cyclists move around our airport precinct."

The new transport projects include upgrading Nixon Rd by October to provide a new route to the airport's Park & Ride on Verissimo Drive without the need for drivers to use the main intersection that connects the domestic and international terminals at Tom Pearce Drive and George Bolt Memorial Drive.

They will also be improving traffic flows and public transport access to the domestic terminal by Christmas through the provision of more space for buses on the terminal forecourt and a new and separate access road for taxis and buses.

Airport users will also see the construction of an "iconic" new gateway bridge over George Bolt Memorial Drive by the end of next year for pedestrians and cyclists to connect 'the Quad' hotel and commercial precinct with the airport terminals and take cars off the main road network.

The final project will be to implement a transit lane system across the airport precinct between December 2017 and 2020 for buses and high occupancy vehicles.

"These new projects will help improve traffic flows and travel times around the airport, and help our transport network accommodate the increasing number of buses that will travel to and from the airport in the future," Littlewood said.

"Our new gateway bridge will be a spectacular sight as you enter and leave Auckland Airport to the north towards the city. Designed by architects Warren and Mahoney, the suspension bridge features a 40-metre-high concrete mast that is inspired by the form of a huia feather with a white-light-tipped column and Māori motifs.

"It will be an urban beacon and precinct marker that will be visible across the airport, both during the day and at night. The bridge will also significantly improve the walking and cycling experience between our commercial precinct and the terminals.

"This new investment in our precinct's transport infrastructure also supports the ongoing and collaborative efforts of the New Zealand Transport Agency, Auckland Transport and Auckland Airport to improve travel times to and from the airport.

"It also builds on other improvements we have made to our precinct's transport infrastructure in the past year.

"Auckland Airport is planning a number of additional infrastructure projects to upgrade our transport network and further improve journeys around the airport precinct. These will be announced in due course."