Second Auckland Harbor Crossing: Next steps announced, maintenance work to begin soon

“NZTA must be focused on delivering the best long-term solution for Aucklanders that addresses the sustainability, growth and efficiency challenges of the transport network in our largest city, while delivering value for money.

“To ensure the project delivers value for money, I have instructed NZTA to clarify the scope of the transition and develop a more detailed understanding of the costs, risks, trade-offs and assumptions for the tunnel and equivalent bridge option before seeking a ministerial decision on which option to progress.”

Brown said NZTA would carry out geotechnical, environmental and utility studies over the next 12 to 18 months to understand the conditions of the ground and seabed. This is expected to begin either later this year or early 2025.

“NZTA will also review and update the agreed delivery pathways for the project, continue to protect routes for the land crossing components, and consider funding, funding and procurement options to inform delivery phases. We expect this project to be implemented using international experience and investment.”

He described building an alternative crossing as a government “priority.”

“The Auckland Harbor Bridge will require major upgrades in the coming years and it is vital that there is an alternative crossing that ensures the sustainability of Auckland’s most important road link while accommodating growth along the Northern Bus Corridor.”

Brown has previously said the government will not push for active transport crossings – walking and cycling – or Labour’s proposed light rail.

The Government’s 2024 Land Transport Policy Statement makes clear that any new crossing will provide “additional road connections”.

NZTA is also expected to consider options for private funding of an alternative transition. This may include equity financing and profit-generating mechanisms. The government is already proposing to introduce tolls on a number of roads.

Tangi Utikere, Labor’s transport spokesman, said his party would be open to all options under consideration as it was “critical that Auckland actually gets an additional port crossing”.

“Whether they land in a tunnel or on a bridge, we will be open to supporting those options because when it comes to infrastructure, it’s too important to just start and stop,” he said Herald.

But Utikere believes the government must act with “urgency” to decide which alternative crossing it will give the green light. He said it was disappointing that a decision had been delayed so long.

“I’m surprised that there seems to be quite a long way to go before an investment decision can be made… This could be an excuse where they are just trying to buy time to figure out how they will proceed. finance it.”

Asked whether Labor would support introducing tolls at the new junction, Utikere said the government would need to explain the reasoning behind the decision.

“These conversations need to be had early. So we feel much more comfortable having conversations about tolling when there is a free alternative route that people can access,” he said.

“If there is going to be a toll, there needs to be a conversation around it, and there needs to be a justification for it.”

Labour’s 2023 proposal would create two road tunnels – one in each direction – for vehicles between Auckland’s central motorway interchange and Akoranga on the North Shore. A separate light rail tunnel from Wynyard to Albany with multiple stations was also planned. One of the lanes on the current bridge could be reserved for cyclists, and a pedestrian platform could also be built. The goal was to begin construction by 2029.

In September, Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown proposed building a second port bridge between Pt Chevalier and North Shore, which he said would cost a fraction of the cost of building the tunnel. It has been criticized by councilors and local residents for its location.

Labor’s Auckland spokesman Shanan Hulbert asked the transport minister in September about his plan to build a second crossing. Brown said the issue was being worked through “methodically.”

“NZTA is already working on options. I note that the last government – their greatest and most amazing idea at the end of their time was to come up with something like a $55 billion project. They believed that this was the way to win elections. The reality is: what did the people of Auckland say? The people of Auckland said, “Hare ra.” That’s what they said. They said haere rā to the Labor Party.”

Jamie Ensor is a political reporter at New Zealand Herald press gallery team in parliament. He was previously a broadcast journalist and digital producer in the Newshub Press Gallery office.