MEDIA RELEASE

8 April 2004

Sylvia Park intersection set for July completion

Major improvements to the intersection of Great South Road and Sylvia Park and an extension of the bridge over the rail tracks are to be completed by July.

Councillor Greg McKeown, chairperson of Auckland City’s Transport Committee, says the design work was first commissioned in 2000, but as the project progressed it became evident more extensive construction would be necessary.

The need to allow for a wider rail corridor at that point required a new design to lengthen the bridge over the rail lines.

Construction has also had to take account of utility companies’ services in the area. They include a large gas main, a Metrowater main supply pipe, another Watercare pipe carrying its supply from Hunua and a number of high voltage electricity cables belonging to Vector.

Work was stopped while the new design work and co-ordination with the utilities was worked through. After cost sharing with the utilities, the additional cost to council will be $640,000.

A traffic management plan was also reworked and new traffic controls successfully implemented.

Auckland City is carrying out the work to improve traffic flow, reduce congestion, improve visibility for drivers and reduce the likelihood of road accidents.

Between 30,000 and 37,000 vehicles pass through this busy intersection every weekday. An economic analysis indicates that the work will prevent injuries and result in a saving of about $20 million in crash-related costs over a 25-year period.

The upgrade will see the road widened from four to five lanes at the intersection, better road layout applied, the longer bridge built, new footpaths, cycle lanes and measures to control stormwater flooding.

Ends

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