Dominion Rd flyover demolition job stalls
Plans to demolish the Dominion Rd flyover to make way for housing have stalled due to Auckland’s light rails plans.
In the 1960’s, dozens of central Auckland homes were demolished to make way for the Dominion Rd flyover.
Albert-Eden Local Board member Graeme Easte said plans to demolish the flyover, that curves over and above the intersection of Dominion Rd and New North Rd, would have provided a economic boost for the city.
Easte said the demolition would also free up land for ‘‘much needed Auckland housing’’.
However, the project had stalled despite preliminary investigations into the demolition showing promise, Easte said.
‘‘Unfortunately, this project has got mixed up with the light rail project and for now is effectively stalled for want of funding,’’ he said.
‘‘What is required initially to get things moving is about $50,000 to build on the earlier investigations and develop a business case, including the cost of demolishing the existing structures.’’
Easte speculated that the demolition would cost less than $10 million.
He said council staff had cal- culated that the long term benefits could be about north of $100 million.
An Auckland Transport (AT) spokesperson said though on hold at the moment, the removal of the Dominion Rd flyover was still being investigated by Auckland Council.
‘‘Any planning around its removal will be integrated with plans for mass transit in this corridor,’’ the spokesperson said.
Eden Terrace resident Rowena Yalland said she initially heard about plans to demolish the flyover last year at a public meeting.
Yalland said her family liked the flyover and used it regularly to access train and bus services.
The interchange was built in the mid-1960s in anticipation for a new motorway running alongside Dominion Rd towards Mt Roskill. However, plans to build the motorway were cancelled shortly after the flyover construction.
In September, the Albert Eden Local Board held an exhibition on the cancelled Dominion Rd motorway as part of the Auckland Heritage Festival.
The Dominion Rd flyover was completed in 1967.