Auckland bridge fix for $86m then $3.5b for tunnels

JOHN SELKIRK

MAJOR ARTERY: Auckland Harbour bridge.

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The cost of upgrading Auckland's harbour bridge has doubled, it has emerged, as officials take the first steps to replace the route with tunnels.

The cost of strengthening Auckland Harbour Bridge's clip-on lanes was set at $45 million when announced in 2007. Yesterday, New Zealand Transport Agency's regional director, Wayne McDonald, said an extra $41 million had been approved to complete work.

The announcement came as the agency lodged notices of requirement with the Auckland City and North Shore City councils to earmark land for two road and two rail tunnels under the Waitemata Harbour. The estimated cost of the routes is $3.5 billion.

Mr McDonald said it was important to recognise that the 50-year-old bridge could not continue as the city's main harbour crossing.

The 1.2-kilometre bridge has an average of 154,000 vehicle crossings daily, at times reaching 200,000. About 60 more cars are estimated to join Auckland roads every day.

He said repairs to the bridge required 43 per cent more steel than originally estimated. The complexity of the work had also increased labour hours, he said.

"The scale and complexity of this project is huge. The initial funding approval was an urgent measure to address an urgent need. As the work has progressed, the need for further investment to complete it to the required standard and extend the service life of the bridge has become apparent," Mr McDonald said.

The strengthening is expected to be completed next year and keep the bridge open for heavy trucks for the next 20 years.

NZTA has filed documents with Auckland City Council and North Shore City Council to ensure land on the proposed tunnel routes remains free. They will link the central city at Victoria Park to North Shore City at the Esmonde Rd Takapuna interchange.

- © Fairfax NZ News