Road needs a name
February 12, 2004

The new road linking State Highway 1 to the top of the Northwestern Motorway might already be under construction, but it still has no name.

North Shore City Council is being asked to consider Transit New Zealand's suggestions for what the new 15km road should be called - or come up with some of its own.

"It needs to be a clear, self-explanatory title based on its location,'' says works and environment committee chairperson, Councillor Joel Cayford.

"This naming exercise is an opportunity for something quick and simple, or something complex and creative we might regret for a very long time," he says.

Suggestions from Transit New Zealand include the Northeastern Motorway, Northern Hills Motorway, Sunderland Motorway (after a bay nearby) and "Altoma'' (for Albany to Massey).

The name favoured by local iwi is "Akiorohia O Ngariki'', which refers to the panoramic tidal inlet of Hobsonville Point, and the Ngariki tribe.

Sticking to the original title used for the sake of community consultation - Upper Harbour Motorway - was also suggested.

But most councillors felt that this was too unimaginative, and put forward a host of other suggestions including Greenhithe Highway and Upper Waitemata Drive at North Shore City works and environment committee meeting yesterday.

The recommendation from the council for the new motorway's name was deferred until the city's Albany Community Board had a chance to discuss it at its next meeting.

The four-lane, $95m stretch of motorway - which will provide a high speed, high capacity link between North Shore City and Waitakere City - is expected to be finished in 2007.

It runs from the intersection of Constellation Drive and State Highway 1, through Albany and Greenhithe, and across the newly widened Greenhithe Bridge into Waitakere.

It will cut down on congestion by providing an alternative route to State Highway 1, enabling motorists to bypass the Harbour Bridge and Auckland City.

Transit New Zealand regional manager, Wayne McDonald, says the motorway not only provides a less congested connection between the two cities, but a much safer one too.

People are invited to visit the website http://www.transit.govt.nz for more information.

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