Cost of Getting Auckland Going Rocketing Skyward

Cost of Getting Auckland Going Rocketing Skyward

The $65 million rise in construction costs for the motorway extension to Puhoi revealed today is a drop in the ocean against the $400 million escalation of costs to Auckland’s major roading projects since August.

Transit New Zealand has eight buildable projects in Auckland which last August were costed at $996 million, the cost of which have jumped to $1.13 billion They include:

Mt Roskill extension of SH20, costed in August at $144 million and currently up to $167 million; Manukau connection between SH 20 and SH1, costed in August at $152 million and now up to $174 million; North Shore busway, set to cost $155 million in August and now quoted at $180 million.

Delays on these projects include requests for Transit New Zealand to slow down the tender process because sub-contractors are overworked on other projects, noted Michael Barnett, Auckland Chamber of Commerce CEO. A ninth project facing major delay while politicians and officials decide which option to follow is the Harbour Bridge to City (HB2C), where a tunnel is now preferred over widening Victoria Park Viaduct. In August, HB2C was costed at $160 million. Transits latest estimate has the project cost of a tunnel at between $200 million and $280.

In August, Transit costed the Avondale extension on SH20 at $850 million. Latest estimates put the project at well over $1 billion.

“This is tax payer money we are talking about – the message to Government and the Boards of Transit New Zealand and Transfund, who allocate the money, is – pull finger. Get on with it; more delay is unacceptable,” said Mr Barnett.

For more information contact Michael Barnett, Ph: (09) 309 6100 or 021 631 150.

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