{"id":115839,"date":"2021-06-04T02:36:57","date_gmt":"2021-06-04T02:36:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fin2me.com\/?p=115839"},"modified":"2021-06-04T02:36:57","modified_gmt":"2021-06-04T02:36:57","slug":"judith-collins-second-harbour-bridge-plan-a-kick-in-the-teeth-for-aucklanders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fin2me.com\/politics\/judith-collins-second-harbour-bridge-plan-a-kick-in-the-teeth-for-aucklanders\/","title":{"rendered":"Judith Collins: Second harbour bridge plan a ‘kick in the teeth’ for Aucklanders"},"content":{"rendered":"
By RNZ<\/strong><\/p>\n The announcement of a second harbour bridge in Auckland is a kick in the teeth considering other projects have been cancelled, National Party leader Judith Collins says.<\/p>\n The Government this morning confirmed it wanted to build a new separate bridge for cyclists and walkers alongside the Auckland Harbour Bridge.<\/p>\n Collins responded at the Westhaven Marina on central Auckland’s waterfront.<\/p>\n She said the Government had recently cancelled and delayed projects including at Mill Rd, the train station and widening of the motorway near Drury where a large residential expansion is expected to be built, and the rail link to the airport.<\/p>\n “I see the most ridiculous decisions going on and it seems to have nothing to do with economic growth,” she said.<\/p>\n “It’s a nice-to-have.”<\/p>\n She said a new replacement bridge that was strong and widened for vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists would “only cost $2 billion”.<\/p>\n “How many people are seriously going to be taking their kids to school, the netball team to sport … across the bridge.”<\/p>\n Transport Minister Michael Wood said in a statement that geotechnical investigations and testing had found that adding a structure to the existing bridge was not possible.<\/p>\n “We need this transport connection to move ahead but it isn’t technically possible to attach it to the existing bridge without putting the whole structure at risk.<\/p>\n “A stand-alone structure is the safest option that will not only provide a walking and cycling option for commuters but creates an outstanding piece of tourism infrastructure.”<\/p>\n The bridge was expected to cost about $685 million plus another $100m for the land section of the route. About 5000 people a day were expected to use it.<\/p>\n The Government was planning to follow it with another harbour crossing – a tunnel for vehicles.<\/p>\n Auckland Mayor Phil Goff said the bridge was a sustainable, enduring project that would last for generations.<\/p>\n