NZ Transport Agency, now called Waka Kotahi, has released a report that proves beyond a shadow of doubt that the SkyPath proposal is essentially a dead duck. The Auckland Harbour Bridge is so stuffed that they are now talking about reducing traffic on it.
Auckland’s ageing Harbour Bridge can’t take any more strengthening and traffic will need to be restricted in order to maintain its “structural integrity”.
Waka Kotahi says the bridge has previously been strengthened several times but it is not possible to do it again due to the weight of the steel that would need to be added.
Instead, “active traffic management” will need to be introduced.
NZ Herald
Quite how they think they can attach a heavy engineering structure to one side of a bridge that is clearly clapped out is beyond me.
A November briefing paper to Transport Minister Michael Wood warned the “loading restrictions” would be needed within the next 20 years — but Waka Kotahi general transport service manager Brett Gliddon hints it may actually be much sooner.
Gliddon said active management of traffic on the bridge would not be needed within the next 12 to 18 months but did not elaborate further on a timeframe.
Regardless of the timeframe, talk of restrictions has renewed calls for an alternative harbour crossing to be prioritised to prevent the city from coming to a standstill in the future.
NZ Herald
We need to be immediately looking at a new crossing.
Here’s an idea, ditch the stupid SkyPath and the stupid tram to Mt Roskill and divert those funds into a new harbour crossing.
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