Complete SH20 Avondale Link by Christmas 2012

The New Zealand Council for Infrastructure Development commends Auckland City's decision to support Transit's preferred alignment for the Avondale link, but says the project should be completed in by Christmas 2012.

"That allows up to three years for design and consent and four years for construction", says NZCID chief executive, Stephen Selwood.

"The fact is that much larger projects in Australia are being completed even more quickly than this."

"Sydney's 40km Westlink Motorway which opens today, eight months earlier than planned, has taken just three and a half years to build." *

"NZCID considers that completion of Auckland's Western Ring Route is an issue of national importance and needs to be treated as a national priority."

"A recent study undertaken by The Allen Consulting Group calculated that in 2012 the total benefit to the economy, likely to result from the Auckland western ring road package, is $838 million annually." **

"Conversely, that means every year of delay costs the New Zealand economy $838 million."

"It will require tolls and a special hearings process under the RMA, but, given the necessary leadership and political will, there is no reason why this vital link could not be built by the end of 2012."

"If the Aussies can do it, so can we." Mr Selwood said.

*The $A 1.5 billion toll road built by the private sector costs just 29 cents per kilometre to drive. Motorists travelling on the Westlink M7 can avoid up to 48 sets of traffic lights and save significant amounts of time. Traffic congestion on local roads will be eased as the Westlink M7 becomes the major freight north / south corridor for Sydney...for further information see links below:

http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/constructionmaintenance/
http://www.westlinkm7.com.au/

**The Benefits of Investing in New Zealand's Road Network, The Allen Consulting Group, August 2004, p40

ENDS

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