Auckland Regional Office

15 September 2003

MEDIA RELEASE

Preferred SH20 Avondale route announced - consultation to follow

Transit New Zealand has announced its preferred option for the proposed extension of State Highway 20 through Avondale, a key project in the development of the Western Ring route.

Investigation of social and environmental issues, together with engineering factors, favour the route option AWI that joins SH20 to the Northwestern Motorway at the Waterview interchange says regional manager, Wayne McDonald.

“For all these reasons, the Waterview interchange was found to be better than the other route considered (ARI) which joins the Northwestern Motorway at the Rosebank interchange,” he says.

“Because it is important that the community and key stakeholders have their say before Transit makes a final decision, we will shortly be releasing the details on the various issues investigated for review and comment.”

This information, together with the Transit study team, will be available at a project ‘open day’ to be held on Tuesday 30 September from 3:30 – 8:00pm at the Avondale College Hall. Transit is asking as many affected parties as possible, and anyone else with an interest, to attend so that it can evaluate community feedback, needed by 29 October 2003, on the draft preferred route and assessments.

Transit is hoping to confirm the preferred route later this year. Investigation will then focus on how any potential adverse effects of the project can be avoided, remedied or mitigated. Community focus groups will provide a key element of the consultation during this more detailed phase of study.

‘Drop-in’ gatherings will continue to be held at the Avondale Community Centre, on the third Saturday of each month, with the next one on Saturday 18 October 2003.

Newsletters will be delivered to the study area this week showing Transit’s draft preferred route for consultation. An ‘Options Scheme Assessment and Assessment of Environmental Effects’ Report (Options SAR & AEE), outlining the detailed route assessments and conclusions, will also be available for review and comment.

The Avondale extension is a key component of the Western Ring Route which, when completed, will link SH20 to the Northwestern Motorway (SH16) and the Upper Harbour Motorway (SH18), allowing traffic to bypass the existing motorway system through the central city area and the Auckland Harbour Bridge.

“At the same time, the Avondale extension,” says Mr McDonald, “will also improve access to the western suburbs and Waitakere City and improve safety in local residential areas by separating longer distance traffic from local traffic movements.”

ends

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