27 September 2016

Media Release

Prime Minister’s “sod turning” of first stage of SH1-20 East West Link – “applauded, but just the start”.

David Aitken, National Road Carriers chief executive, was welcoming today’s ceremony in Onehunga marking the start of work to widen State Highway 20 between Neilson Street and Queenstown Road.

“This $30 million project is integral to the wider $1.8 billion East-West Link nearby and will support traffic growth on the Western Ring Route when the Waterview Tunnels open.”

Branded by Prime Minister John Key and Transport Minister Simon Bridges as the first stage of Auckland’s East-West Link project, today’s announcement will give the freight sector and other businesses in the industrial suburbs along the northern edge of the Mangere Inlet confidence that there is progress in sight to address the heavy traffic congestion they are forced to endure most working days.

“This area is home to logistics and other businesses that employ around 130,000 people and generate nearly 20% of Auckland’s GDP. The efficiency of daily inter-provincial road freight services that originate and terminate in this area of Auckland is being compromised by the heavy congestion.”

The confirmation today that NZTA is on target to lodge a consent application with The Environmental Protection Agency for the East-West Link before Christmas was also welcome.

National Road Carriers would be continuing to keep a close eye on the projects progress, and in particular to ensure the design of the new route was freight-friendly – safe and efficient, concluded Mr Aitken.

ends

© Scoop Media