Fresh calls for extra Auckland harbour crossing as bridge damage shows city's vulnerability
Saturday, 19 September 2020
Auckland Harbour Bridge lane closures following a truck crash have prompted renewed calls for an additional crossing as traffic in the city ground to a halt for a second day.
Travel mayhem on Friday came after two trucks were caught up in a 127 kilometre per hour wind gust and one crashed, causing damage to the bridge, shutting the centre four lanes.
NTZA said the lanes could be closed for weeks, and traffic woes continued on Saturday.
The incident highlighted the city’s vulnerability and “desperate need” for an alternative harbour crossing, according to Auckland Chamber of Commerce chief executive Michael Barnett.
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There are currently two routes across the harbour, and the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) on Saturday advised commuters to consider using the Western Ring Route (SH18, SH16 & SH20) instead.
But Barnett said “for years” it had been clear the city needed more, and Friday’s incident showed just how fragile Auckland’s transport network is.
“An additional crossing is desperately needed, we could see that quite clearly before this latest incident,” he said.
“One incident, one issue, and the whole city shuts down.
“The [concept] work for another crossing has been done, it now just needs people with some commitment to get it done.”
There have long been plans for a multi-billion dollar tunnel underneath the harbour to help ease congestion, which was to be delivered sometime between 2030 and 2050.
In 2019, the NZTA business case for the tunnel was delayed, but on Saturday, Auckland Mayor Phil Goff said despite the disruption of Covid-19, planning was now well underway.
Goff told Stuff work was set to start on the alternate route within the next decade (2030-40).
“The preferred option at this time is a tunnel – I suppose one advantage to that would be no wind,” Goff said.
“NZTA are now looking at what the configuration of it [the tunnel] will be and it’s likely going to be light rail of some kind.
“Whether that means it will be exclusively light rail and cars remain on the Harbour Bridge, we will have to wait and see.”
Like with any major infrastructure project, however, cost remains a big issue.
Given it is a state highway, any project would need to be funded by the government and cost estimates have already ballooned to between $6-7 billion, Goff said.
As for the near future, Auckland Transport is working on solutions to ease traffic congestion caused by the reduction in lanes following Friday’s incident, he said.
That included increased bus and ferry services, as well as encouraging more people to work from home.
Congestion aside, the incident which leaves only the outer “clip-on” lanes in use, will significantly impact the freight industry, costing precious time and money.
That’s because heavy goods vehicles, such as lorries, are not permitted to use the clip-ons due to safety concerns.
'The clip-on lanes were a Band-Aid, and we can't keep putting Band-Aids over Auckland's issues. We need some real change and soon,” Barnett said.
On average, around 170,000 vehicles cross the Harbour Bridge every day.