Breakthrough on Victoria Park tunnel option
15 April 2003

The ARC will ask Transit NZ to proceed with consent applications for a tunnel on the Harbour Bridge to City project (HBTC), while the funding gap is expected to be filled through options identified by the Auckland Mayoral Forum.

"There has never been any doubt that the community wants a tunnel but the challenge has been to see how this can be achieved.

What we've done in the last few weeks is to take the significant step of pulling the players together and now we have a way forward," says ARC strategic policy committee chair Ian Bradley. "I am very excited about this."

Cr. Bradley says there is potential for funding through mechanisms that have been developed by all Auckland's territorial authorities through the Mayoral Forum.

"The possible two to three year timeframe for the resource consent and designation process to be completed enables the funding method to be identified and agreed to by relevant parties," says Cr. Bradley.

In early March the ARC brought together the community and key partners around Transit NZ's HBTC project to look at options to close the $175M funding gap between widening the current viaduct and building a tunnel under Victoria Park.

Cr. Bradley says the project is an opportunity to show that the Auckland region can get it right, not just by easing congestion but by ensuring that all major infrastructure projects contribute to making this region a better place to live.

Cr. Bradley also expressed his appreciation of the support he has received from Transit NZ.

ENDS

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