North Shore Mayor Andrew Williams is promising a new harbour crossing of four tunnels, two each for rail and motor vehicles, as part of his bid to be the first Super City mayor.
Mr Williams said he would begin by building the rail tunnels by 2018, followed by the road tunnels in 2022. The road tunnels would effectively be State Highway 1 through lanes connecting with Spaghetti Junction, leaving the harbour bridge as the main route to downtown Auckland.
The scoping of the tunnels would be completed by the end of next year, he told TVNZ's Q & A political programme on Sunday.
Mr Williams, who entered the mayoral contest last month, also announced plans for rail to Orewa and new ferry services to Takapuna, Browns Bay, Beachhaven and Hobsonville.
Other plans include a maximum bus fare of $2 for students, undergrounding part of Quay St and including Devonport Wharf in the waterfront development agency in the Super City set-up.
Auckland City Mayor John Banks said the plans were promises costing billions of dollars, although he has promised progress on a $1.5 billion underground rail tunnel through Britomart so 36 trains an hour can run under Albert St to Mt Eden and back.
Mr Banks said the rail tunnel could be built with infrastructure bonds, but his priority was projects already started.
The other heavyweight mayoral contender, Manukau Mayor Len Brown is promising to complete plans for rail to the airport, the rail tunnel and rail to the North Shore within 18 months of coming to office. Then build them within 15 years.
Asked how Wellington would view the plans, Mr Brown said he was confident the Government would listen to the vision and mandate of the new Super City mayor.
Williams: I'll build rail, car tunnels
North Shore Mayor Andrew Williams. Photo / Herald on Sunday
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