Cup won't put roadworks on fast track

Hosting the Rugby World Cup in 2011 isn't a reason to adapt or accelerate Auckland's roading programme, new Transport Minister David Parker said.

Local body politicians had expressed hope after the announcement New Zealand had won the bid that the event would force prompt action to fix Auckland's transport woes.

But Mr Parker said though the World Cup provided "a good target to aim for" to improve public transport infrastructure, it did not accentuate the need for roading improvements.

"I'd be surprised if you changed your state highway spend in respect of a one-month demand bubble," he said. "I haven't heard anyone seriously suggest that."

His stance has raised the ire of National Party transport spokesman Maurice Williamson, who called on the Government to set a firm deadline of six months before the World Cup for key motorway upgrades.

"We will look shocking in the eyes of the world if we try to showcase our major city, Auckland, and the transport infrastructure is gridlocked."

He said Sydney had set an example by spending heavily on transport infrastructure for the Olympic Games, which had lasted only a fortnight.

The SH20 Avondale extension - which would run close to Eden Park - and the Newmarket Viaduct upgrade were the top priorities, Mr Williamson said.

The Newmarket Southern Motorway upgrade is not due for completion until 2014, and a timeframe has not yet been determined for the SH20 extension to connect the Southwestern and Northwestern motorways.

Mr Parker also defended the speed and scale of Auckland's roading projects, saying Transit couldn't do more in the city without causing gridlock. His comments came in a week in which Transit's annual report revealed only 57 per cent of the 118 projects due to be completed in 2004-2005 were finished.

But he rejected suggestions that Transit's failure to meet deadlines was unacceptable.

"More progress has been made in completing critical roading projects in Auckland in the last year than has been seen in living memory," he said.

Roading projects worth more than $1.3 billion were under way in Auckland.

"I was in Auckland last week to have a look at what's happening. There's just an enormous amount happening.

"One of the questions Transit has run up against is that if you do much more now then it's very difficult to integrate it with existing traffic flows," he said. "You do much more now than you're already doing and you cause a gridlock."

- HERALD ON SUNDAY