Mr King said it was calculated by average delays and assessed in relation to the delays at peak traffic times. Without replying directly, he indicated there was already peak hour demand and that would grow to "significantly longer periods than now".
He said Fraser St to Cameron Rd would be the first phase of works, because of the significant traffic stacking that was already occurring. The corridor upgrade would be done as a number of projects over the years, rather than all at once.
Councillors were told that revoking the highway status of the roads was under way and ownership would likely revert to the council on July 1.
Councillor Bill Grainger said the process had been very unfair and the issue should come before the new council because it did not know the factual background.
Mr Crosby said the answer would still be the same.
"It will not stop the New Zealand Transport Agency at the end of the day - they don't need our permission."
Councillor Steve Morris supported the call for a report so the council could make it clear to ratepayers that the NZTA was forcibly giving back the corridor and there was nothing they could do about it.
Councillor John Robson opposed relitigating it again, saying they could play politics with the issue but there was a decision trail and the council had taken legal advice. Another report would not be a good use of staff time.
On the issue of honouring past council decisions, he reminded the meeting of the decision made in the 1950s that had led to the controversial recent felling of the Fergusson Park pohutukawa tree.
Councillor Grainger's call for a further report was left to lie on the table until tomorrow's council meeting.