Auckland Transport media release

23 November 2012

Minister Inspects New Bridge In Panmure Before Opening

Traffic will be shifted to a new bridge in Panmure on Sunday so the current Ellerslie-Panmure Highway bridge can be replaced.

Minister of Transport Gerry Brownlee, Auckland Transport Chief Executive David Warburton, Maungakiekie MP Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga and Maungakiekie-Tamaki Local Board Transport Leader Simon Randall viewed progress on the $100m project today before the bridge opening.

The new bridge will be used in the future for buses to arrive at the front of a new Panmure Station building. It is being used for general traffic until August 2013 while the current Ellerslie-Panmure Highway bridge is demolished and replaced with a higher, longer one.

The current construction includes building three new bridges, a new Panmure Station building, a new 1.5km north-south road, a 220m tunnel next to the station for the new road and improvements to Van Damm’s Lagoon reserve. Two of the bridges are complete and 2500 truckloads of rock excavated from the tunnel, with roof beams now being lifted in.

Auckland Transport Chairman Lester Levy says excellent progress has been made since construction began almost 12 months ago.

“AMETI is one of Auckland’s top priority transport projects. This stage of work, although one of the city’s biggest transport construction jobs, is just the first phase of a long term plan to improve transport in the eastern suburbs.”

Minister of Transport Gerry Brownlee says "Congratulations to Fletcher Construction on the progress. The Government is happy to work with Auckland Transport to see this project coming on stream as soon as possible.

"It is a project that will make quite a bit of difference to the lives of people in the area and contribute to realising the significant economic potential of this part of the city."

Maungakiekie MP Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga says “As the local MP, I am pleased with the substantial progress Auckland Transport and the NZTA are making with this critical transport corridor.

“This project is going to deliver significant improvements and benefits for both residents and businesses in Maungakiekie.

“The reduction in journey times through Jellicoe Road, Panmure Roundabout and Ellerslie-Panmure Highway will bring about much needed relief to traffic congestion for many of our residents and families. Once completed, the project will take thousands of vehicles including 2,400 trucks off the route.

“A further benefit of this project is to the local economy, with expected employment opportunities for up to 300 people at its peak and the ripple on effects to our local businesses including those in the construction and materials industry,” Mr Lotu-Iiga says.

Auckland Transport Major Projects Manager Rick Walden says two new bridges will have been built and opened in the first year of construction.

“Fletcher Construction has also excavated the equivalent of 2500 truckloads (22,000m3) of basalt rock for the new road tunnel and has the walls in place. Beams for the roof will be lifted in soon.

“Columns are now in place for the new Panmure Station building and it will begin to take shape next year.

“Next year we expect to begin work on the new road, which will create a quicker, more direct north-south link between Glen Innes and Mt Wellington.”

Maungakiekie MP Sam Lotu-Iiga, Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee, Auckland Transport Chief Executive David Warburton and Maungakiekie-Tamaki Local Board Transport Leader Simon Randall on the new AMETI bridge before it opens to traffic.

ENDS

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Gordon Campbell: On Failures Of Care For Those With Mental Disabilities

Hard to imagine a more disturbing insight into the treatment of the vulnerable than the Health Ministry report on Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau. The Ministry has found that the country’s only kaupapa Maori intellectual disability residential care provider has been “seriously dysfunctional.”

The ministry says the business has failed to recruit and retain quality staff – and says the kaimahi (caregivers) that have been employed are seriously unsuitable for the job, lacking basic knowledge. But Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau doesn’t get all the blame. The report says there’s a significant gap under disability laws to ensure there’s oversight by qualified clinical professionals. More>>