Delivering a world-class transport system that makes Auckland an even better place to live, work and play.
ARTA - Auckland Regional Transport Authority
Waitemata Harbour Crossing

A joint project between Auckland City Council, Auckland Regional Council, Auckland Regional Transport Authority, North Shore City Council and the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) in 2008 identified a preferred option for an additional transport link across the Waitemata Harbour. The NZTA and Ontrack as designating authorities are now preparing documents for designation of the single preferred route.

Benefits:

     •   A connected and cohesive transport system to support economic growth in the region
     •   More opportunities for walking, cycling and passenger transport
     •   Improved access and more reliable travel times across the harbour linking the North Shore to Auckland CBD and beyond
     •   Ease congestion on the Auckland Harbour Bridge
     •   Increased resilience of the state highway network

Issues shaping the project

  • Supporting planned growth in the region 
  • Providing more transport options across the harbour for passenger transport, cycling and walking
  • The need to identify and protect a corridor for an additional crossing, particularly in view of the development planned for Auckland’s waterfront 
  • Creating an additional strategic option to the Auckland Harbour Bridge, which is already carrying more than 160,000 vehicles per day (nearly 60 million vehicles a year) 
  • Managing traffic flow between the North Shore and Auckland 
  • The need to provide certainty for communities who may be affected by another crossing.

Features:

A regional study into a route for a potential additional crossing of the Waitemata Harbour evaluated a long list of 159 options from all major investigations carried out since 1997. All transport types were considered including bus, rail, heavy vehicles, cars, cyclists and pedestrians. The proposed list was narrowed down to a shortlist of three preferred options:

Option 1: Esmonde to Britomart

  • Passenger transport only, in a new tunnel or on a new bridge between Esmonde and Britomart, with possible connections at Onewa and Wynyard
  • General traffic on the existing Auckland Harbour Bridge
  • Walking and cycling on either a new bridge or the existing Auckland Harbour Bridge (with appropriate modifications to the existing bridge)

Option 2: Esmonde to Britomart and SH16

  • Passenger transport in either a new tunnel or new bridge across the harbour, with tunnels to landside connections between Esmonde and Britomart. Possible connections at Onewa and Wynyard
  • General traffic in either a new tunnel or new bridge (as well as on the existing bridge), with tunnels to landside connections between Esmonde and SH16 at either Wellington Street (Port and Westbound) or Newton (Westbound only). Possible connections at Onewa and Wynyard
  • Walking and cycling on either a new bridge or the existing Auckland Harbour Bridge (with appropriate modifications to the existing bridge).

Option 3: Esmonde to Britomart and Grafton

  • Passenger transport in a new tunnel between Esmonde and Britomart with a possible connection at Onewa
  • General traffic in a new tunnel between Esmonde and Grafton (as well as on the existing bridge) with a possible connection at Onewa
  • Walking and cycling on the existing Auckland Harbour Bridge (with appropriate modifications to the existing bridge).

Waitemata Harbour Crossing options diagram

The shortlisted options are those that best met the objectives of: 

  • Economic development and regional growth - in line with the Regional Growth Strategy 
  • Connectivity - creating connections between transport networks 
  • Environmental - sustainability and effects on the natural and built environment 
  • Social and community - connecting communities and avoiding severance and displacement 
  • Affordability.

Recommended option:

The recommended option comprises of four tunnels, two for road and two for rail, catering for separate north and southbound travel located to the east of the Auckland Harbour Bridge. The Central Motorway Junction on the isthmus would link to the Northern Motorway, while the suburban rail network could in future be extended northward from the Auckland central business district to the North Shore.

Next steps:

The documentation for the land based designations and coastal marine area plan change were lodged at the end of 2009. Construction is yet to be confirmed and could be 20 years from now following in-depth investigation, reporting, resource consenting and design phases with all involved parties.

To find out more, visit the Waitemata Harbour Crossing section on Transit New Zealand's website.