Faster link from city to hospital

By WAYNE THOMPSON

Motorists will from Monday have a faster link from the Auckland central business district to two major motorways and Auckland Hospital.

The link is a new bridge over Grafton Gully and its six motorway lanes.

It extends Wellesley St to Grafton Rd and has ramps for the Southern and Northwestern Motorways.

Traffic flow in the central city will be improved by the bridge separating local and motorway traffic, said Transit New Zealand chief executive Robin Dunlop at the official opening yesterday.

The bridge was a key part of the $68 million Grafton Gully Project which started in late 2001 and was expected to be finished by Christmas.

Significant engineering feats were required for the bridge, which slopes in two directions. One challenge was installing precast concrete beams for the deck, which were 24m long and weighing 50 tonnes each.

Wellesley St bridge is closed to pedestrians, who can cross the gully using the 1910 Grafton Bridge, and the Grafton Rd Bridge.

Transport Minister Paul Swain and Minister for Auckland Issues Judith Tizard helped cut a green ribbon to open the bridge.

Auckland Mayor John Banks said thanks were due to the Government for being the first in 25 years committed to do something about Auckland's transport problem.

Mr Banks noted the country had a budget surplus of $5.6 billion and suggested it could be used to make faster progress in solving Auckland's transport crisis.

He said the Grafton Gully project improved motorway access to the port and provided a natural link for the future Eastern Transport Corridor.

The corridor project was on schedule and he said a preferred route would be known by February.

Ms Tizard said the gully project was one of six transport projects that were well under way as a result of the Government's putting its resources firmly alongside those of Auckland's councils.

Transit New Zealand and roading funding agency Transfund were working alongside the councils to get Auckland moving, Ms Tizard said.

This would not have happened without Prime Minister Helen Clark's commitment to Auckland in 1999 to provide the city with the infrastructure it needed, she said.