Media Release: 5 July 2011

AA welcomes Board's approval of Waterview Connection consents

The AA has welcomed the Board of Inquiry's decision to approve consents to build the Waterview Connection.

"The Board's approval brings us one step closer to completing the missing link of the Western Ring Route. That will mean less congestion, improved travel times, safer local roads and safer motorways," says AA Auckland Transport Spokesman Simon Lambourne.

"The benefits of the government's new national consenting process have also been confirmed - in 10 months the needs of local communities, the needs of motorists, and the needs of the country, have all been considered and an appropriately balanced solution agreed by the Board."

"The AA congratulates NZTA for running its tender process to construct the Waterview Connection in parallel to the consenting process. That has resulted in considerable time and cost savings, and we can now look forward to construction starting and the Waterview Connection being completed by 2016."

The AA-commissioned Allen Report estimated the benefit to New Zealand of a completed Western Ring Route to be at least $840 million every year.

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