MEDIA RELEASE
3 October 2005

Widening of Fanshawe Street underway

Work to widen the main northern gateway to Auckland’s CBD, began this week.

Auckland City is widening Fanshawe Street to improve bus services and traffic flow along this key traffic route. The work will improve pedestrian safety and the overall look of the area.

A minimum of two lanes in each direction will be maintained during the work but motorists should expect delays.

The northern side of Fanshawe Street is being widened by up to 4m between Beaumont Street and Market Place intersections to:

- increase its traffic capacity, especially during peak times

- accommodate wider bus lanes

- create more bus bays so buses can pass other buses that have stopped to collect or drop off passengers

- allow for additional traffic turning lanes

- widen and resurface footpaths.

The council’s Transport and Urban Linkages Committee chairperson, Councillor Richard Simpson says the changes to Fanshawe Street will make bus service between Albany and the CBD more convenient and reliable.

“Another key priority for the council is making the area pedestrian-friendly. To achieve this, improvements will be made to pedestrian crossings, traffic medians and the Beaumont and Halsey street intersections,” says Mr Simpson.

“With more than 40,000 vehicles a day already using Fanshawe Street, it needs to be widened to keep traffic moving.

“Auckland City will work hard to complete the work with as little inconvenience to residents and road users as possible.

“This project is part of Auckland City’s goal to keep Auckland moving by providing more effective transport solutions for the city,” says Mr Simpson.

The $12 million project, due to be completed in April next year, is being carried out in readiness for increased bus services that will use the new $225 million Northern Busway under construction by Transit New Zealand.

ENDS

© Scoop Media