A high powered business lobby group is pressurising for a new highway link between Auckland City and Manukau’s eastern suburbs.

The group, Auckland Business Transport Forum, consists of representatives of the Chamber of Commerce, the Employers and Manufacturers Association, Ports of Auckland and road user groups.

It has launched a campaign aimed at reversing an Auckland City Council decision to pursue public transport options.

An eastern highway was abandoned after a rethink by Council lead it to favour encouraging Aucklanders to use public transport instead of their own vehicles.

An eastern highway had earlier been mooted as one way of reducing peak hour congestion, and also as a way of luring heavy trucks serving the container port from suburban roads.

An estimated $100 million each years is drained from the economy due to this congestion, and the Forum says this cost will not be addressed solely through public transport solutions.

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