KEY POINTS:
Here is an earlier selection of Your Views:
Jamie
For once we're witnessing the forward thinking that this country hasn't seen for a very long time, but on the brink of withdrawl. I think someone really needs to sit down and calculate the cost of traffic. Okay, 3bn is a lot, but the growing time it takes, the hours spent waiting to move a metre at a time, an alternative harbour crossing is well overdue. Let's take a quick look at Thailand, some say a third world country, yet, they have a traffic infrastructure that NZ only wish to equal. Roads that are tolled, yet, flow, and are used. Build, and toll, it's the way our Harbour Bridge was built, and paid for.
John Waugh
To suggest that Auckland does not require a second crossing for the harbour is the sort of insanity that has got this city into the transport nightmare it now endures. The obvious place for it is Devonport to Mechanics Bay area and it should include a rail link for 21st century commuting. The idea that Devonport residents would not like their semi-island status to be reduced by a second access way is almost certainly fallacious. Most of them have better things to do with their lives than spend them in endless Lake Road traffic jams. The rest of the Shore would also benefit immensely. Recent bad weather threatened to close the bridge, highlighting the vulnerability of state highway one at this point and demonstrating the need for another crossing.
Jonathan
This is another case of us not being able to get anything done. Build the tunnel. We only ever look at today when what we need is to plan for the future. Auckland is going to continue growing and we need the infrastructure ready to support it.
Sean
Over the last year of living in NZ (Whangaparaoa) I have seen a steady increase in the traffic volume, reaching back to Greville Road. If I leave later then 6am then I get caught in the tail going onto the bridge. There is no 7am peak hour, it starts way before then. I would like to see an efficient rail/bus transport system from the Whangaparoao area. At the moment it cost me over $10 bus fare. If I miss the express bus it could take up to 1hrs 20 mins to travel to the city. That cannot be right. It only costs $60 to fill my car and that will last for nearly two weeks. And only 40 mins travelling, unless there are traffic delays. Come on, be green and friendly. Give us a usable affordable transport system that works when we do.
Bill Bowden
Are they completely insane? Do any of these people actually use the bridge in peak hours? It is a nightmare. Do it before we grind to a complete halt. Do it now!
Andrew
There is absolutely no need to build more road instead we definitely need better public transportation which can be funded by either charge road tax on the motorways or more tax on the petrol itself. It is harsh, but it is also a very good way to get things done.
Bev
Entirely agree with comments so far. We need another crossing and a tunnel is a better option but the southern end of it needs to come out further south or south east than the CBD otherwise it will just add to the congestion. Maybe it needs to be a city bypass of a sort and definitely include light rail to link up the Northern Busway to Britomart. Please let's stop talking about it and spending millions on each and every 'blue print' that comes out of the woodwork near elections and just get on with it. Yes people are trying to get smarter about where they work and live to avoid the commute but it's not always possible to bring the two together. The present Harbour Bridge was a very short sighted answer back then and to remove the tolls was another financial disaster. Let's not repeat it again. My husband is working on the Eastern Link project and have just completed the tunnel section in Melbourne and previous to that, one in Sydney(the machine used there is the one used for the Alpurt tunnel) there are heaps of Kiwi's already working on such projects overseas who would love to come home and help get our roads moving. We have the expertise already. Come on people less talk more action please!
Andrew
I'm all for a new harbour crossing, preferably a tunnel. However the tunnel should be built to accommodate public and freight transport only. It should take buses, trucks, rail and have a dedicated cycle way. I'm not keen to see it carry private cars the bridge can continue to serve that function. As I see it, congestion on the bridge would be relieved if a new tunnel was dedicated to efficient public transport and freight movement. The new tunnel should include provision for rail since I presume in the long term Auckland will further develop its rail network. It would be silly to build a tunnel without the fore sight that it should one day carry a rail link to the North Shore.
Joe
"3billion buys 10 years of free public transport."
Sounds good to me.
Di McKee
Before they rush off and cancel the idea of the second harbour crossing they need to combine this survey with one of the Upper Harbour crossing. From 05:30 in the morning it is nose and tail from the Shore through to the NW Motorway. Trying to access Hobsonville Rd is almost impossible with one virtually pushing into the traffic flow. We live in the Hobsonville/West Harbour area of West Auckland The huge difference in traffic volume if there is an incident on the Greenhithe Rd which then blocks traffic from the North Shore is amazing. Suddenly the North Western Motorway becomes a viable run in to the city instead of the car park it usually is of a morning and evenings are as bad. An incident in the evening on the Upper Harbour Bridge or Upper Harbour Highway block traffic on the NW Motorway all the way back to the city which shows just how much North Shore traffic uses this as an alternative route. When will people in Wellington let the people in Auckland do their own planning. They seem to have no concept as to traffic flows and social structures here in Auckland. Yes, there is life beyond the Bombays but Auckland has a distinct style and flow of its own.
Martin Dick
A tunnel would be great if they then restricted either the bridge or the tunnel from unloading into the city. Similar to how it works in Sydney. The current changes to the bus lanes and the park-and-rides are a huge step in the right direction. The next step should be an underground/rail system and a method for cyclists and walkers to cross the harbour. This would reduce the traffic further and would also help Aucklanders meet their environmental responsibilities by giving alternatives that currently do not exist.
Jack (North Shore)
If you exit the tunnel well south of spaghetti junction it would be a fantastic idea. It would then take out most of the bridge, Victoria and spaghetti bottlenecks resolving many problems, but alas we will have total gridlock long before 2020 and if the ARC are involved it will probably never happen.
Paul
How on earth can this hole in the ground cost $3bn?
The Millau Bridge, a stunning piece of architecture in central France, has towers that are taller than the Eiffel Tower (and is actually the tallest bridge in the world) yet didn't cost anywhere near that much. It cost 394m euros (272m pounds, $524m), highest point: 343m, vehicle height: 270m. (See:http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4091813.stm).
I suggest we budget for "only" $1bn, fly Norman Foster and his team of architects over here, put them up in a fancy hotel and get them to build us a work of art as well. We'll save money and gain something we can all enjoy. Then we can spend the other $2bn on hip replacements, the Tank Farm, schools or even (gasp) rail services throughout the rest of the region.
David
When will the planners figure out what all bridge users know; that traffic on the bridge normally flows well, but it is the Vic Park flyover to the South (mornings) and traffic that banks up from Greville (evenings) that are the real bugbear!
Robert (China)
Three billion dollars and one tunnel running parallel to the existing bridge shows an outrageous lack of imagination. In the sixties we were smart enough to turn to a newly emerging industrial nation Japan to install the clippons to the existing bridge. Why not do it again? Watching bridges go up in China, it is pretty clear that you could build ten bridges with the time and money that has been allowed. A little bit of empowering legislation and you could have a couple of additional crossings that would keep traffic away from the already choked middle section of the Auckland motorway system. Bayswater Mechanics bay, and the Meola reef route crossings make a lot more sense.
Christian
Typical kiwi government/council idea of not planning for future growth if it's not needed right now! I find it very hard to believe those figures after moving to the shore myself in 1991 and travelling into the city from there up until last year. In my experience the traffic has definitely worsened, maybe not on the bridge but definitely on the motorway up to and past Greville Rd. Are the decision makers being flown to work? Multiple tunnels/bridges are needed from the shore and from Bayswater/dev side as well as Birkenhead side to the city to relieve clogging of the only artery feeding the city. PM Helen Clark has got 7 or 8 billion sitting there. Guess that will be spent come next election.
Damien
What a load of crap! Traffic has declined because the northern motorway and the onramp congestion is so bad. That's right, people like me have moved away from the North Shore because the traffic is so bad. Southern motorway is a dream run compared to the bridge. It might sound like a contradiction in terms, but when they started doing all those roadworks on the northern a few years ago, knowing the traffic would get worse (and it did), we were very motivated to move away. It is about time this country woke up and realised that statistics are lies. Sack the bureaucrats and managers with no life experience, and put people who have done the work and know how things really are in charge.
Tony
Another crossing is desperately needed, but make sure it includes light rail, and the bridge then gets provision for cyclists. However the crossing is only part of the problem morning and night I spend most of my time sitting in my vehicle waiting to get to the bridge, as the motorways either way are jammed. I would love to take public transport but because of my work location it is not an option.
Robert Douglas
What are these people thinking? I have lived on the shore for 20 years, commuting to the city or beyond every working day. Traffic is horrific and rush hour now spans 6:00am to 10:00am where it used to be 7:00am to 9:00am 20 years ago. Many people go to work early, in my case, before it opens, simply due to traffic. The Harbour Bridge is a single point of failure as there is no reasonable alternative. Some seven years ago an accident on the bridge at 2:00pm caused traffic to backlog past Manukau! I remember my wife taking two hours to drive from Manurewa to Greenlane due to the congestion. A single point of failure is a dangerous thing. Any significant issue that spans more than 24 hours will have a huge impact on the city. The cost of not putting in an alternative crossing is far too high. Frankly, the potential for disruption makes $3.0b cheap!
Sid
Stuff spending $3bn on a new tunnel spend it on fun things like a new waterfront stadium and funk up Queens Wharf/tank farm. Now, try working from home occasionally if you can, or living closer to work. You'll get a double whammy: less commuting time and less travelling costs. (Did you know that if you spend just 1 hour per working day commuting, over a year that's about 1.5 solid weeks spent getting to and from work. What a waste.) Must say that I'm just about to change the way I get to work (commuting means 1.5 hours per day for me) and I'll be halving that in a couple of weeks. Be smart.
Ashley
Build the tunnel for once look forward traffic will only increase. Put a toll on the Harbour Bridge of 20 cents to help fund and collect the toll electronically so you don't interrupt the traffic flow.
Eddy Mercx
Transit yet again displays its total lack of consideration with regard to provision of facilities for cyclists. Even if there were a cycle lane I seriously doubt that any sane person would want to ride a bicycle through a tunnel under the harbour. If a cable stay bridge were proposed as the solution then there could be provision for light rail, dedicated bus lanes, and cycle and pedestrian access. The northern entrance to the tunnel is situated immediately to the north of the old toll plaza, presumably just above sea level. Have transit thought about what they are going to do when rising sea levels threaten to engulf the northern entrance in 30 40 years time?
Aaronbnz (Grey Lynn)
I think this is awesome. It's about time Transit have started thinking into the future like other cities. Even though it probably won't be completed until 2020 it shows that transit are willing to fix Auckland's traffic woes in a positive way. We need a second crossing and unless we spoil our world class harbour with another bridge crossing this is the way to go. Plus, also incorporating a possible underground bus or light rail station this is a big step forward for our public transport. As the only positives being done is the double tracking between Waitakere and Auckland and electrifying the railway and the northern busway, which should be implemented into the western motorway! This light rail idea is also a great way to go as it also can be incorporated into the current road layout Ponsonby, Newmarket, Mt Eden etc, such as the current Sydney route. A tunnel is really the only other harbour crossing we should have.
Mike (Samui)
Finally some fantastic ideas, but come on guys the dates are a lit drawn out. Will it be constructed by horse and cart? This type of development needs to involve overseas contractors BOT (build operate & transfer). They can put forward a per cent of the funding and deal with the overall design. In this respect it would be best to construct a twin tunnel system or even add additional service tunnels in the design. Don't panic, Fletchers, Fultons, Downers, Mainzeal, Hawkins etc. Guys just go out and find your partner, but be a little adventurous and go further than Australia. My pick as a joint venture partner would be Asian: Japanese, Thai, Korean, etc. First thing to address is the famous "RMA"
Great thing about tunnelling, no noise or dust, and fantastic, can work two shifts, ("two shifts are you mad"). These heavy civil projects will only be successful if they can run 24/7. The amount of work produced is massive. So come on Aucklanders, don't be pushed around by people with other agendas. This includes Transit, ARC, ACC and any other fools who attempt to run local politics in New Zealand. Get moving or you will be left behind.
Lily (North Shore)
2020 is too long to wait for a tunnel. There needs to be another lane from Esmonde Road now to stop traffic queuing for over half an hour for most of the day not just rush hour. Millions of dollars have been wasted on the buslink while businesses lose money because their staff are sitting in traffic instead of working productively. And now bus passengers are going to be slowed down by having to leave the route to go to the pointless Akoranga Drive bus station which is as far away from any housing as it is possible to be on the North Shore. I am concerned that Transit isn't thinking about commuters, congestion or pollution with these deadlines and with its history of white elephants.
Richard
You know most people have said it already. This plan is so flawed. Why can't we (kiwi's) not learn from other countries lessons like Hong Kong and other Asian countries. I used to live in Hong Kong in the 70s and 80s. The authorities over there quickly learned that building more roads was silly. Hence the under ground railway and tunnels came about, but none of their tunnels used roading currently in use as all that does is allow people to come back to a bottle neck and doesn't take traffic from the congested roads. In this plan there will be two bottle necks, one just before the harbour bridge (North Shore side) and the other at Cook Street in the CBD. We are better to pay more for a solution to take traffic away from these congested areas in the long term not add to congestion.
Dom The Pom
How will traffic jams be avoided if the exit to the tunnel is going to be anywhere near the CBD, or meeting an already congested motorway system? I'm no expert, but I'm guessing the one thing you need to avoid in a tunnel is stationary vehicles with their engines running? If traffic flow into the tunnel is restricted due to traffic flow problems exiting the tunnel, won't this just cause more traffic jams on the North Shore, CBD or motorway? Surely the money would be more wisely spent implementing an improved public transport system wouldn't that be a more worthy legacy for these egomaniac politicians?
Tommy
The most important thing is not the cost. We need a new bridge! For heaven's sake stop producing nicely drawn blueprints. Start work! I am sick of reading these 'blueprints' for the last three decades.
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