Additional Waitematā Harbour Connections

The NZ Transport Agency, Auckland Transport (AT) and Auckland Council are working in partnership to investigate more resilient, reliable and efficient transport options to connect the growing number of people, goods and services moving across the Waitematā Harbour between the North Shore, Auckland City and beyond.

The Additional Waitematā Harbour Connections (AWHC) business case is currently being developed, building on current and existing work, to further investigate the need, timing, function and form of possible new harbour connections, as well as ongoing interim improvements to the North Shore public transport system. The business case will also determine the need for route protection.

In 2010, the NZ Transport Agency completed a Preliminary Business Case for road and rail which followed detailed work on the alignment of the AWHC and the assessment of both the bridge and tunnel options. This Preliminary Business Case included initial consideration of need, timing, funding and procurement options.

Between 2016 and 2017, Auckland Transport completed a Strategic Case and Programme Business Case for the future North Shore Rapid Transit Network, which investigated public transport needs and timing.

The AWHC business case phase will combine the Rapid Transit Network investigation work with the AWHC business case, which will determine what combination of modes a possible future connection would need to cater for.

The business case investigations will be completed by mid 2020 and reported to the AT and NZ Transport Agency Boards.

Following completion of this business case, the Transport Agency, AT and Auckland Council will be in a position to provide more clarity about the need for, timing, transport modal mix, alignment, operation and form of any addition connections, and will continue further planning work.