The Transport Minister says the Government's mega $45 billion Auckland Harbour crossing plan could have been 25 percent cheaper if it had started six years ago.
The Government unveiled its $45 billion Auckland Harbour crossing plan on Sunday which would be a mix of light rail and road tunnels, walkways and cycleways built over several years.
The two-three lane tunnels (one in each direction) would be 5-6km long, built for vehicles between the central Auckland motorway junction and Akoranga on the North Shore.
The estimated cost is expected to be $12-$15 billion, and the Government says construction would start in 2029.
The Government's also proposing a light rail tunnel from the Wynyard Quarter, under the harbour east of the Auckland Harbour Bridge.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Chirs Hipkins the second harbour crossing is needed as soon as possible following recent disruptive closures forced by recent weather events.
"[These] illustrate the city's vulnerability to interruptions. These new tunnels future-proof the city's transport network by reducing reliance on the Harbour Bridge while creating fast new options for getting in and out of the city," Hipkins said.
When asked what the cost would have been for the overall project six years ago, Transport Minister David Parker said: "Oh I don't know probably 25 percent cheaper".
Minister Parker told AM that based on current population trends "if we don't do something in the next 15 years or so that Auckland Harbour Bridge clogs up".
It's not a project that will be done overnight, Parker made it clear that it would "take a long time to deliver" and would be staged over "many decades".
"You gotta start planning for it now."
And it won't be done by any one Government.
"There's actually a lot of planning by successive Governments and Governments change and have to finish off what earlier Governments have started."
However, when asked, Minister Parker couldn't put a finger on how many cars the plan would take off the road.
"I don't have the percentage… oh actually if the whole project was completed, including the big rail spur up through under Devon Port and up through Takapuna that really would be transformational for the people who would have good public transport connections," he said.
"An increased percentage, I don't have it off the top of my head."
Minister Parker said the main objective of the plan is to "avoid traffic congestion, which both increases emissions and actually means people can't efficiently go about their lives".
"You've actually gotta create space and affordable fast opportunities for people to choose to use public transport because it's more convenient and cheaper for them."
Watch the video above for more.
