Extra tunnel tours added
It took years of building and months of delays for Auckland’s new Waterview Connection tunnel to be ready - but just hours for 42,000 people to fully book an open day.
NZTA announced on Sunday that the $1.4 billion Auckland roading project was due to open to traffic in early July, but there would be a chance for the public to walk and cycle through on an open day this Sunday.
However, shortly after the announcement NZTA tweeted that the public walk through was fully booked.
On Monday Transport Minister Simon Bridges announced three extra open days as a result of high public demand.
An NZTA spokesperson said: ‘‘Given the world class innovation and engineering that has been at the heart of this project we are not surprised that it has captured people’s imagination and that the tickets have been snapped up so quickly.’’
The tunnel was earmarked to open on Easter weekend, however delays due to system failures had pushed out the opening date.
An exact date has still not been confirmed.
NZTA Auckland highway manager Brett Gliddon said the tunnel was expected to reduce traffic on key roads in central Auckland and along Great North Rd, travelling west.
‘‘This will benefit the local communities of Mt Albert, Mt Roskill and Mt Eden by reducing traffic on local roads.’’.