NZTA hopes to save year on western ring route

Transport authorities hope to save about a year in the construction of Auckland's western ring route highway and to have it ready by 2016.

The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) has approved $2 billion for the Western Ring Route, which when complete will provide a 48km alternative highway between Albany and Manukau.

It also hopes to save time by running the construction tender process and the consenting process for the Waterview connection, the remaining part of the ring route which is yet to begin, at the same time.

"Running the two in parallel will save us up to a year in the construction timetable as well as offer significant savings on the overall cost of the project," NZTA chief executive Geoff Dangerfield said today.

Tenders would be called for next month, and application for statutory approvals through the new national consenting process would be run at the same time.

NZTA hopes construction of the Waterview connection will begin by the end of next year.

Transport Minister Steven Joyce said the start of the tender process was an important step towards the completion of the ring route, which he said was essential for the continued growth and economic development of Auckland.

"It will also contribute to better links for business and freight between key industrial hubs in the cities of Manukau, Auckland, Waitakere and North Shore, as well as improving access to the airport."

The Waterview Connection will link the existing State Highway 20 at Maioro Rd to SH16 at Waterview. Much of it will be through a tunnel.

Extra widening will take place on SH16 on either side of the Waterview interchange to allow for the extra traffic.

Mr Joyce expected the western ring route to create up to 19,000 new jobs.

Other parts of the western ring route are either constructed or under construction.

The Manukau Harbour bridge project should be completed by next month, the Manukau connection between SH1 and SH20 should be ready by the end of 2010, and the Hobsonville motorway project should be ready by 2012.

Once the Waterview Connection is complete the only part of the ring route which is not a full motorway will be a short stretch at the northern end linking SH1 to the Greenhithe motorway section of SH18.

- NZPA