Bridge okay, interchange axed

Transit New Zealand intends building a second Manukau Harbour motorway crossing without upgrading its Onehunga interchange to ensure the main project is ready for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

The agency has accepted an Auckland City planning commissioners' recommendation to withdraw a notice of requirement for land to build a new interchange after residents complained that it would be too obtrusive.

Regional manager Peter Spies has promised to work with community, city and regional representatives to devise a more acceptable interchange upgrade, independently of building a duplicate bridge to Mangere.

But Transit intends appealing against an Auckland Regional Council resource consent requirement to spend 2 per cent of what has now been trimmed to a $265 million project budget, for extra mitigation work.