Auckland's future harbour crossing is on the agenda this year, with the
ANZAC Centenary Bridge Group tabling an iconic bridge proposal to challenge the NZTA's tunneling interests.
The convenient website of the ANZAC Centenary Bridge Group (CBG) explains the benefits of their concept design (explaining explicitly the rendered images by
NextSpace are indicative, and clearly not the design proposal), which intends to replace the existing bridge altogether. Cost savings are initially argued, with an estimated budget between $2.5-3.0 billion being an improvement on the estimated $3.7-4.1b for the tunnel option (they also list some
funding options which the bridge would 'lend itself well to' but I can't see why their exclusively for a bridge). The second main argument is for the superior flexibility of the bridge in carrying capacity, with the option for adding further lanes, as well as flexible infrastructure (such as a movable median barrier) - is it just me or is the flexible lane addition a bit moot if the tunnel option is already adding lanes (by keeping the existing bridge in limited operation, as well as having the potential for future-proofed design in the tunnel anyway), and once again I can't see why a tunnel can't have a flexible median barrier. The final thrust of the argument is to bring the construction forward to 2015 (the NZTA reportedly plan the harbour crossing development for around 2020), for economic, employment and cultural reasons. Economically the sooner the bridge is built, the cheaper, and will provide an estimated 10,000 jobs -the sooner the better, and culturally they wish to secure a befitting monument to commemorate the ANZAC Day Centenary. I can't see a problem with all of those, although I'm always a reasonable skeptic of hastiness in design matters of such national importance.
From
Scoop, we hear them being a lot more persuasive, especially in regard to giving more modes of transport the experience of crossing the harbour:
"
What’s more, our concept design for the ANZAC Centenary Bridge would carry more cars and trucks than the alternative and would provide for rail, cyclists and pedestrians. It dovetails perfectly with efforts to re-generate the waterfront, particularly the Wynyard Quarter, and would significantly raise Auckland’s international profile.
"
Mr Simpson noted that polling released late last year by the Group clearly indicated that a bridge was the solution favoured by Aucklanders."
One of the key issues here is the admitted finite longevity of the existing Harbour Bridge.
Current upgrades which are strengthening the box girders signal the end of the Bridge's capacity, the NZTA announcing in December that "a new engineering report assessing the effects of future traffic growth on the bridge had confirmed that the box girders could not be strengthened any further and the bridge has a finite service life in its current configuration, emphasising the need to secure the future of an additional harbour crossing."
With the final $86 million committed to that complex upgrade, which is designed to suffice for 20 years, the next move of the NZTA was to secure a 'sub strata' designation for the potential tunnel site, in order to protect to viability of the option against underground (and restricting) development in the Wynyard Quarter. The NZTA Board have met with the ANZAC CBG, and although
apparently opting for the tunnel approach, have not discounted the ANZAC proposal by any means, welcoming the information (including a
pre-feasibility report) which will contribute to more robust and serious dialogue at a Governmental level as the project develops.
Richard Simpson, former Auckland councillor, is leading the ANZAC CBG, and is speaking about the bridge at the Transport Infrastructure & Economic Development - New Zealand Summit 27 April - 28 April at the Crowne Plaza, Auckland. Richard’s topic is “The Auckland Harbour Crossing - How the Anzac Centenary Bridge could generate great economic outcomes.”
For detailed information about the ANZAC Centenary Bridge Group, visit
their website here, which usefully includes a bunch of links to
other media discussions on the Bridge debate.
All (fantastic) images from
www.bridge2015.org.nz, visualised by designers
NextSpace.
The proposed ANZAC Centenary Bridge location, connecting Onewa Rd on the northern side of the harbour and Wynyard Point on the
southern side.
Is a bridge cooler then a tunnel? Or are we tired of building upwards?
A concept sketch illustrating some multi-modal crossing possibilities. Good stuff, anything but rocketing through a tunnel would be harrowing, Sylvester Stallone already proved that.