Roading plan cuts off emergency access

Puhoi fire brigade could lose its access to the motorway tunnels. Photo / Kenny Rodger

The emergency first response unit for the Puhoi Tunnels, north of Auckland, will be cut off from reaching them under Transport Agency plans.

The agency's plans for extending the motorway north with a new road from Puhoi to Wellsford do not provide for an interchange to Puhoi, which now has a link to the motorway and State Highway 1.

Loss of emergency access was raised yesterday by Puhoi resident Trevor Sampson, who was a chief fire officer at North Shore and Auckland.

He said Puhoi Volunteer Fire Brigade was first response unit for the black spots from Waiwera to Mahurangi West as well as the motorway's twin tunnels. If it could not reach the tunnels, other units would have to come from ambulance and fire bases at Silverdale and Warkworth and would be caught in traffic buildups.

"One day there will be a problem in the tunnel ... it's not a case of if - it's when.

"Good provision has been made in the tunnels for emergencies, but we need access to the whole motorway and tunnels ... if we don't get this alternative, it will make it more likely that lives will be lost."

Without a link to the motorway, an ambulance attending an emergency in the Puhoi area have to come from Silverdale through Orewa and Waiwera, which would eight minutes to the response time.

In future, the Puhoi unit would be expected to support Warkworth and Silverdale emergency services and would need access to the motorway extension.

Rodney Mayor Penny Webster said there was a strong case for a link to the new motorway in the vicinity of Puhoi-Mahurangi West and called for a review.

Agency regional director Wayne McDonald said planning was in the first phase only and feedback was being sought.