Council takes new look at Tamaki River crossing

By JULIET ROWAN

The Manukau City Council is taking a closer look at an alternative route proposed for the eastern corridor that would cross Tamaki River.

The route would follow Allens Rd in East Tamaki over the river to Panama Rd in Mt Wellington.

Ti Rakau Drive in Pakuranga had been favoured as the best route for the section of corridor running through Manukau City.

Consultants made the recommendation to the council in a report.

They viewed the Allens Rd route, which would involve building a bridge across Tamaki River, as a long-term project.

But the council said yesterday that consideration was now being given to building it sooner.

The East Tamaki industrial area was experiencing rapid growth and was expected to become the Auckland region's biggest industrial and employment zone.

Construction was due to start this year on a new Southern Motorway interchange that would improve access to the area.

The Waiouru interchange, near the Otara power station, would stream traffic directly off State Highway 1 into East Tamaki.

Mayor Barry Curtis said the council would commission experts to examine the Allens Rd route in greater detail before it made a final decision on the eastern corridor route in February.

It would re-examine the Ti Rakau Drive route.

Gaining resource consent for the corridor - whichever route is chosen - is likely to require the council to make its case in the Environment Court.

Mr Curtis, a strong advocate for the corridor project to link the southern and eastern suburbs with Auckland City, said the council wanted to ensure it had done its homework.

"We have to be seen to have explored all options," he said.

The experts' findings between now and February would determine the council's final decision.

Mr Curtis did not rule out the possibility that both routes would be slated for development.

Auckland mayoral candidate and City Vision leader Dr Bruce Hucker, who opposes the corridor project, said the Allens Rd option made more sense than going through Pakuranga because it linked up with the Southern Motorway at Mt Wellington.

"It's a better option to come directly off State Highway 1," he said.

Allens Rd called into question the need for the corridor to run from Glen Innes to the city, he said.

But environmental concerns, with the route running across Tamaki River, would have to be addressed.

It was still not the best solution, he said. Completing key roading links already begun and improving public transport was the way to solve Auckland's traffic woes.