Green Light For Major Eastern Suburbs Transport Project

Manukau City Council has given the green light to a package of major transport improvements in the city’s eastern suburbs.

The council has confirmed the route and plans for the Auckland Manukau Eastern Transport Initiative (AMETI). It will now begin the process needed to gain consents and designate the land required in Manukau.

Most aspects of the project were confirmed, but further work is being done to confirm the best design for the Ti Rakau Drive improvements around Gossamer and Trugood Drives. This will also involve further community engagement.

AMETI is a joint project with Auckland City Council and the Auckland Regional Transport Authority (ARTA). The total package of work is estimated to cost $1.33 billion, with $436 million of improvements in Manukau.

A new BERL economic impact report shows AMETI would allow business to generate an extra $4 billion GDP every year and residents an extra $2.4 billion per annum.

Manukau City Council’s approval follows feedback from more than 700 people during consultation, with approximately 460 people attending open days. The consultation showed overall support for the AMETI project, with most issues being local.

Manukau Mayor Sir Barry Curtis says residents and businesses can now be assured that a confirmed plan is in place for dealing with congestion in the east.

“This is a major step forward for dealing with transport problems in the eastern suburbs. We now have a project confirmed and the council can get on with making it happen.

The decision gives people certainty about whether their property is required or not. The council will follow its normal process of making sure people are treated fairly by purchasing land on a willing buyer-willing seller basis.

A total of 98 Manukau properties are needed for the project, 63 residential and 35 business. These numbers include properties that are only partially affected, for example part of a driveway. All affected property owners will be contacted directly by Manukau City Council.

The AMETI projects in Manukau are:

Bus lanes on the section of Pakuranga Road between Panmure Bridge and Ti Rakau Drive

Reeves Road flyover at Pakuranga town centre, park edge road, localised widening and improvements on Ti Rakau Drive approaches to the Pakuranga Motorway

Duplication of the Pakuranga Motorway bridge

Ti Rakau Drive bus priority improvements within existing road reserve

Raising Ti Rakau Drive over the intersections at both Gossamer and Trugood drives. Further design work and consultation is being carried out for this section.

Manukau City Council has also decided to begin protecting a route for future rapid transit along Ti Rakau Drive. This will involve purchasing 45-50 properties on the south side of Ti Rakau Drive on a willing seller basis or if they come onto the market.

ENDS

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