North Shore City Mayor pushes for urgency on Victoria Park tunnel project
North Shore City Mayor George Wood says the 2014 completion date for Transit's $370m Victoria Park tunnel
project is unacceptable for the region's motorists.
Mr Wood welcomes news that investigative drilling has begun on the project, but adds his support to the NZ
Council for Infrastructure Development's position that the tunnel needs to open four years earlier.
"This tunnel has to be a national transport infrastructure priority. North Shore City motorists heading across
the harbour bridge in peak periods are increasingly frustrated about the ongoing bottleneck at the Victoria Park
flyover.
"As it stands, we can only dream of the day when the flyover carries south-bound traffic, the tunnel carries
north-bound traffic, and an extra lane each way between the tunnel and the harbour bridge eases congestion.
"Northern Busway users would also benefit from this increased road capacity south of the harbour bridge.
"As New Zealand's economic centre, the Auckland region cannot afford for congestion to continue.
"Once a new Government is formed, I look forward to joining my Auckland region mayoral colleagues in continuing
to advocate strongly for our transport projects."
(ends)