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O¯ 2NL needed now

I read with interest that the Government has announced a multi-billion dollar investment in a rail project to move people between Auckland City Centre and the airport — presumably so that all Auckland-based ministers can forgo their limousine trips and take the train to and from the airport instead. I also note that construction could start as soon as 2023.

How ironic that, in many people’s view, another major piece of transport infrastructure work, namely the Otaki to north of Levin expressway, is not scheduled to commence construction until 2025! Of course it must be far simpler to construct a rail line through densely populated suburbs than it is to construct a highway through farmland.

Or does it signal that all along NZTA have no real desire to build this road? Why are they constructing (at a reported cost of $11 million) that roundabout in Queen S? Why are they spending how many millions of dollars on the ‘improvements to Kimberley Rd, Arapaepae Rd? Both these projects will be redundant once (if) the bypass is built — in fact won’t they have to build another roundabout/ interchange further east along Queen St to connect with the bypass

Yet, the main problem area is that stretch of highway between Manakau and Kuku where there is no alternative route if the road is blocked.

All NZTA can do is reduce the speed limit and paint some larger white centre lines. How many more people are going to die on that road before the bypass is constructed?

Perhaps one of the many talking heads at NZTA can explain why it is quicker to start construction of a rail line that it is to build a road.