THE TIME- SAVER TUNNEL: HowWaterview has changed the way we drive

Traffic on suburban routes also benefiting from less congestion

For the first time the impact the Waterview Tunnel has had on road travel in Auckland can be revealed — with the $ 1.4 billion project shaving many minutes off several busy commuter traffic routes to and from the central city.

New NZTA data released to the Weekend Herald reveals the tunnel has been used for more than 6.6 million trips since it opened to the public on July 2.

And more than 400,000 vehicles are using it every week.

Its widespread use has led to some dramatic cuts on other in- demand routes in the Auckland transport network; including on the Southern Motorway, where a trip into the CBD from Papakura on a weekday is now taking on average of just 49 minutes, down from up to 70 minutes before the tunnel opened.

Average times on traffic on suburban routes to and from the CBD have also been cut ( see graphic). And traffic times were also becoming more reliable.

“These travel time savings are great news not only for commuters but also for business productivity, because these improved travel times mean cost savings for hundreds of businesses,” said Brett Gliddon, the New Zealand Transport Agency’s system design manager.

“One of the Waterview Connection’s key aims has been to provide a more efficient link between the port and airport to support growth and reduce the cost of doing business.”

Gliddon said motorists were benefiting from “faster and more consistent and reliable travel times” since the tunnel opened.

The time savings were being provided by road users having the benefit now of a choice between travelling on SH1 and the Western Ring Route.

“That’s helping rebalance the city’s travel demands and is making both the motorway system and local roads more efficient,” he said.

Travel on SH1 had dropped by 7 per cent, with a growing number of motorists opting for SH20 and SH16.

“This redistribution is resulting in a more efficient motorway system with congestion relief equivalent to between 8500 and 10,000 fewer hours each day of total travel time on the motorways alone,” Gliddon said.

“The redistribution of demand also allows the motorway system to more effectively absorb incidents such as breakdowns or crashes during busy periods.”

Gliddon said the Waterview Connection — including its tunnels — was built to create extra motorway capacity and resilience.

A key aim was also to provide a second route through Auckland, bypassing the city centre, and resulting in a reduction on the reliance of the SH1 network and the Auckland Harbour Bridge, as well as freeing up local roads.

Non- motorway routes which were enjoying savings in transit time during week days — both to and from the CBD — included Sandringham Rd, New North Rd, Dominion Rd and Rosebank Rd.

A morning trip from Sandringham Rd to the CBD now took on average 8 minutes, as opposed to 7- 13 minutes pre- tunnel.

From Great North Rd to the CBD in the morning is now taking 16 minutes, compared with 16- 19 minutes pretunnel. The return trip in the afternoon/ evening was taking 15 minutes, as opposed to up to 20 minutes previously.

Traffic on Dominion Rd had also improved, with a morning trip into the CBD now taking 10 minutes, compared with up to 17 minutes previously.

Barney Irvine — principal adviser, infrastructure, at the Automobile Association, said its members were celebrating the benefits of the tunnel.

Feedback from AA members told of time saved across the board with people shaving anything from five to 30 minutes off their commutes.

“What people will have noticed is that the pressure’s eased. They’re getting to work and home at least a few minutes faster, and without as many unexpected delays.”