$7.3 billion to cut city jams

By BERNARD ORSMAN

The cost of fixing Auckland's congested roads over the next decade and beyond has been put at $5.92 billion - equal to the cost of four Clyde dams.

At the same time a new public transport system will cost $1.36 billion to build. A mere $25 million will be spent encouraging people to walk and cycle to work.

The "indicative costs and timing", including long-term plans to build a new $1.4 billion harbour crossing, have been compiled by the Auckland Regional Council.

Of the 30-plus roading projects the ARC looked at, work has started on three - Grafton Gully, the Puhinui Rd interchange and the Upper Harbour Motorway.

Transit NZ plans a start this year on improvements to Spaghetti Junction and extending State Highway 20 through Mt Roskill, barring a hold-up in the Environment Court.

More progress has been made on public transport - the $204 million Britomart transport centre is on track to open in July next year, work has started on the $158 million North Shore Busway and 13 ferry wharves are set to get a spruce-up.

Martin Gummer, chief executive of the road funding agency Transfund, said it was not impossible that Auckland would get most of its roading wishlist once the Government passed legislation allowing private companies to build toll roads.

The region's bill would be greatly reduced if a new harbour crossing, which could be 15 to 30 years away, was put to one side and private money was used to build big projects such as the eastern highway.

Mr Gummer said that within the next two to three years most of Transfund's budget for new roads would be going to Auckland projects.

Auckland Mayor John Banks said the priority for the Auckland Mayoral Forum was to complete the motorway network and build an integrated transport system.

He described the priorities as the "triple bypass" - untangling Spaghetti Junction at a cost of $174 million, completing State Highway 20 from Hillsborough Rd to the Northwestern Motorway at a cost of $864 million and building the eastern highway, which the ARC has put at $495 million but could cost twice that with a tunnel under Hobson Bay.

Mr Banks said privately built toll roads were critical for making projects such as the eastern corridor viable in the medium term.

Infrastructure Auckland, with a $1 billion money pot, is expected to finance much of the new public transport system. So far it has made big grants to Britomart ($45 million) and the North Shore Busway ($40 million) and is to give $31 million for developing the 13 ferry wharves.

Auckland City ratepayers have contributed $134 million to Britomart.

An Auckland Green list MP, Keith Locke, said Auckland had only one decent dedicated cycleway, from Te Atatu to the city, and more than $25 million was needed to make cycling and walking healthy alternatives to the motor car.

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