Centenary Bridge Group To Release Costings

ANZAC Centenary Bridge Group

Media Statement
18 October 2009 For Immediate Release

ANZAC Centenary Bridge Group To Release Feasibility Analysis

Costings and technical details for a new Auckland harbour bridge will be released on 3 December as part of a wide-ranging feasibility analysis, the ANZAC Centenary Bridge Group announced today.

The Group consists of a number of well known local companies, including NZ Steel, Mainzeal, Aspec Properties, Davis Langdon, and Jasmax.

It has been endorsed by organisations such as the Returned Services' Association, the Heavy Engineering Research Association and Heart of the City, and has received guidance on financial and technical matters from leading international consulting firms.

Representatives of the Group have had encouraging informal discussions on the ANZAC Centenary Bridge with Prime Minister John Key, Transport Minister Steven Joyce, Auckland MPs, and other Government officials.

The Group is committed to promoting a solution to the Waitemata Harbour crossing debate that addresses Auckland's transport needs, celebrates the city's natural and cultural heritage, and elevates its standing on the world stage.

A new bridge can deliver such a solution, the Group maintains, and can do so more cost-effectively than a tunnel or any other alternative. The Group is calling for the new bridge to be constructed by 2015, to commemorate the ANZAC Day centenary. Information on the proposal was published in the Sunday Star-Times today at http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/2975447/Get-foreign-help-to-build-next-b ridge Group spokesman Richard Simpson said it was confident that the Government would give equal consideration to a bridge as to a tunnel when it came time to decide on options for a new harbour crossing this December.

"The new ANZAC Centenary Bridge would be cheaper to build and operate than the new tunnel/existing bridge option", he explained. "It would carry more cars and trucks, while providing for rail, cyclists and pedestrians. We see it as the best option in economic, environmental, and social terms."

Mr Simpson said that the Group was currently focused on getting the numbers right, rather than "making noise".

"We look forward to sharing the full details of the feasibility report in early December", he said. "Until then, the key thing is following the correct process to ensure that the bridge option gets on the table."

Nevertheless, Mr Simpson said more information would soon be available on the proposed new bridge, with the ANZAC Centenary Bridge Group website scheduled to go live at http://www.bridge2015.org.nz by the end of October.

Mr Simpson described the interest and support that the Group had received thus far as "very positive", and as having come from both large and small companies and organisations, from a range of areas of the economy.

ENDS

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