SH20 Waterview Connection

The SH20 Waterview Connection will form part of the Western Ring Route through Auckland, New Zealand.

Formerly known as SH20 Avondale extension, it will connect the SH20 Mt Roskill extension to SH16 at Waterview. The NZ Transport Agency intends to complete the Mt Roskill-Waterview section of the Western Ring Route by 2015. [http://www.sh20.co.nz/process&time/process2.htm The Programme] (from the Western Ring Route project website of Transit New Zealand)] This will be the last section of the southwestern motorway and Western Ring Route to be completed.At August 2005, the estimated construction cost was NZ$1.15 billion. [http://www.transit.govt.nz/content_files/planning/forecast-05-06/update/charts/TransitUpdate_AucklandCharts.pdf State Highway Forecast 2005/06-2014/15] ] In February 2008 a bored tunnel option was announced costing NZ$2.3 billion [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10491037 $2.3 billion toll tunnel tipped for M-way link, New Zealand Herald 7 February 2008] ]

Progress

Route choices

Several routes were considered, all being variations of either a connection to SH16 along the Rosebank Peninsula (e.g. AR1, AR3) or at the Great North Road interchange at Waterview (e.g. AW1, AW4). [http://www.sh20.co.nz/consultation/consultation.htm Consultation] (from the Transit New Zealand website) ]

It was generally assumed that below-ground construction would be required where AR3 passed through Avondale Heights, to a maximum depth of 41 m.

On the basis of technical and environmental assessments, the AR3 and AW4 route options were dismissed.

Preferred route

Transit New Zealand selected the Waterview connection as its preferred route [http://www.sh20.co.nz/consultation/Newsletter%208%20Final%20Version.pdf Newsletter 8, February 2006, AW1 is the confirmed preferred route for the Waterview Connection] (from the SH20 project website of Transit New Zealand)] , with the support of the Auckland City Council [http://www.sh20.co.nz/process&time/process2.htm December 2005, Auckland City voted to support the extension of SH20 through Waterview] ] & Waitakere City Council [http://www.waitakere.govt.nz/AbtCnl/ct/pdf/citydvlpmt2006/090206ag.pdf 9 February 2006, City Development Committee page 2-9, Waitakere City conditionally support Waterview option] ] [http://www.waitakere.govt.nz/abtcnl/ct/pdf/council2006/271106ag.pdf 27 November 2006, Council page 8, Waitakere City conditionally support Waterview option] ] , over the Rosebank option, which is still the preferred route of the Auckland regional council [http://www.arc.govt.nz/arc/index.cfm?88F08791-BCD4-1A24-9DE9-E5E959F47B1C&entryID=FA1C9A27-BCD4-1A24-9F6C-75986BB91C3A 14 March 2006, ARC media release] ARC supports Rosebank route for SH20 extension] .The previous AW1 & AW4 routes favoured a New North Road interchange with ramps facing south, and full connections at the Waterview interchange. The preferred route was announced with a Great North Road interchange replacing New North Road and no southbound access at Waterview. This proved unpopular with local residents, and it is considered unlikely a bored tunnel could accommodate an interchange because of its depth. [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/category/story.cfm?c_id=49&objectid=10398752&pnum=2 Transit may ditch Mt Albert interchange plan, NZ Herald 30 Aug 2006] ]

Options for the preferred route

The NZ Transport Agency continues to investigate options for the Waterview connection. The three options are:

# the AW1 option as previously presented
# an extended cut-and-cover option
# a full tunnel option

These may include a partial interchange at Great North Road where it meets Blockhouse Bay Road, or a tunnel with no interchange at Great North Road.

The NZ Transport Agency is still investigating options for the Waterview interchange [http://www.waitakere.govt.nz/AbtCnl/ct/pdf/council2007/210307ag.pdf 21 March 2007, Waitakere City Council meeting agenda] ]

Bored Tunnel Investigation

In Newsletter 11, November 2006 [http://www.sh20.co.nz/consultation/Newsletter%2011.pdf Newsletter 11, November 2006] (from the Western Ring Route project website of Transit New Zealand)] , Transit announced that it would be investigating further construction options for the route. The map included expands the study area to the east, which would allow SH20 to run almost directly from the Mt Roskill extension, parallel to Richardson & Woodward Roads, to the SH16 Great North Road interchange at Waterview.

Outcome of the tunneling assessment was due around September 2007. " [http://www.communityfirst.co.nz/news.htm Political Liaison Group, Western Ring Route – SH20 Waterview, 10th Meeting – Friday 27 April 2007, Minutes] "]

Tolls

On 4 April 2007 Transit "decided not to progress with the toll proposal at this time". "On balance, and after careful consideration of the public responses and the stakeholder submissions, the Transit Board's view is that it will be too difficult to satisfactorily address those - at times, competing - issues while maintaining a feasible business case for tolling the Western Ring Route". " [http://www.transit.govt.nz/news/MediaReleaseView.do?MediaReleaseId=nz.govt.transit.transweb.content.news.MediaRelease-11451 Transit decides not to proceed with Western Ring Route toll concept, Transit Media Release, 4 April 2007] "]

Bored Tunnels announced

[http://www.transit.govt.nz/projects/waterviewconnection/gallery/maps/070208-Waterview-Connection-tunnel-alignment.jsp Map of Tunnel Route]

On 7 February 2008, bored tunnels were announced as Transits preferred option. [cite web|url=http://www.transit.govt.nz/projects/waterviewconnection/|title=Transit - Waterview Connection|author=Transit|accessdate=2008-02-08] .

The NZ Transport Agency's preferred option is a pair of 2-lane tunnels costing $1.89 billion, rather than a pair of 3-lane tunnels costing $2.14 billion. NZTA's traffic modelling indicates the capacity of the 2-lane tunnels would be reached within 10 years of operation. [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10504599 NZ Herald 17 Apr 08 Groups call for three-lane tunnels] ]

NOR for Tunnel Route

Transit NZ's board resolved to seek a designation over land for a $1.89 billion pair of motorway tunnels through Waterview. [http://www.transit.govt.nz/projects/waterviewconnection/news/007.jsp 4 June 2008 TRANSIT BOARD SEEKS TO PROTECT TUNNEL ROUTE FOR WATERVIEW] ] The board called for a report from officials on managing fumes from the tunnel "to benchmark the proposed approach incorporated in the design work to date against current international best practice". In response to submissions questioning the adequacy of just two traffic lanes running in each direction, it sought a comparative assessment of the operational performance and costs of providing three-lane tunnels, initially estimated at $2.14 billion. [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10514428 NZ Herald 5 Jun 08 Designation sought over motorway land despite opposition] ] Tunnels are not much more expensive than a far more disruptive option of a surface route combined with limited sections of "cut and cover" trenches costing $1.7 billion. A full surface option would be prevented by a need to run the motorway under or over two rail corridors, several busy arterial roads and Oakley Creek. National fully supported completing the region's western ring route in no more than eight years. [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10514716 New Zealand Herald 6 June 2008 National alleges Labour influence over tunnels] ]

Waterview Connection PPP Procurement Investigation

The government has set up a joint public-private sector steering group to investigate the feasibility of a public-private partnership (PPP) as a procurement method for the Waterview Connection Project. A PPP will be evaluated alongside a conventional public sector procurement method to determine how the two methods compare in terms of value for money. The steering group has as an independent chairperson, Sir Brian Elwood and reports directly to the Ministers of Finance and Transport. It is expected to report back to Government by the end of June 2008. [http://www.transit.govt.nz/projects/waterviewconnection/ Transit Waterview Connection Home Page] ] [http://www.treasury.govt.nz/publications/informationreleases/waterview Tresury webpage, Waterview Connection PPP Procurement Investigation] ] Announcement made 26 August 2008. The steering group advised the Government that a public-private partnership (PPP) would be the best way of building the new $2 billion section of the city's Western Ring Route. Finance Minister Michael Cullen said a PPP, which would mean tolls of about $2 a trip, was looking "pretty positive". Transport Minister Annette King said the report identified several critical factors that would need to be met for the project to be successful, and she had ordered officials to do more work before the Government committed to a PPP. Treasury, Transport Ministry and New Zealand Transport Agency officials would report back to ministers by October or early November. "Once this work is done Cabinet will be able to make some firm decisions on how to progress Waterview." [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10529114 Motorway tolls move a step closer, New Zealand Herald 26 August 2008 ]

Mitigation and related projects developed in parallel

Avondale Southdown railway line

Enabling works and allowance for the Avondale Southdown line are a part of constructing SH20 [http://www.sh20.co.nz/feedback/faq.htm#Q17Rail FAQ How will the new section of motorway affect the existing Southdown rail designation] (from the SH20 project website of Transit New Zealand)] [http://www.transit.govt.nz/projects/mountroskill/about/ SH20 Mt Roskill includes enabling works for a future rail line] (from the Transit New Zealand website) ]

Cycleway

Cycling projects for Waterview straight and Blockhouse Bay Road are likely to be ready for consultation early in the financial year beginning July 2007 [http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/auckland/transport/transit/avondale.asp#April April 2007 SH20 Political liaison group minutes] ]

Maioro St to New Lynn

As part of the SH20 Mt Roskill extension, NZTA is widening Maioro St from two to four lanes, to be completed mid 2009 [http://www.transit.govt.nz/projects/view_project.jsp?content_type=project&=edit&primary_key=44&action=edit Transit: Mt Roskill extension Project Details] ] . The Auckland City Council is responsible for widening the remaining route to New Lynn, i.e. New Windsor Rd, Tiverton Rd, Wolverton Rd. [http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/auckland/transport/tiverton/default.asp Auckland City Council, Tiverton Road/Wolverton Street upgrade] ] While it completed some widening of Tiverton Rd in 2007, Auckland City Council has deferred completing any more widening until 2015-2020 [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10483655&pnum=0 New Zealand Herald 21 December 2007 Road Widening to wait until 2015-2020] ]

ee also

* List of motorways, expressways, and highways in Auckland

References

External links

* [http://www.transit.govt.nz/projects/waterviewconnection/gallery/maps/index.jsp Transit NZ] - SH20 Waterview Connection
* [http://www.aucklandmotorways.co.nz/swwaterview.htm Auckland Motorways]
* [http://www.sh20extension.com Independent discussion and forum]
* [http://nomotorway.org.nz Save Auckland's Green Belt no.motorway.org.nz]