National MP and transport spokesperson Simeon Brown says proposed safety upgrades to Auckland's Mill Rd announced last year are going nowhere and the government needs to deliver on its promises.
National MP and transport spokesperson Simeon Brown says a business case for safety improvements to Auckland’s Mill Rd now isn’t expected until late 2022. Photo: LDR
Transport Minister Michael Wood announced in June 2021 that the original Mill Rd project had been dropped after an estimated price increase from $1.35 billion to $3.5b.
The 21.5 kilometre Mill Rd arterial route was expected to provide an alternate, four-lane route between Manukau and Drury, running parallel to the east of State Highway 1.
Wood said it would instead focus on targeted safety upgrades to the northern section of the road, as well as investing in walkways, cycleways and public transport in the wider Drury area.
But Brown said the minister still doesn't know what the new Mill Rd improvements will cover and a business case for the works now isn't expected until late 2022.
"Effectively it's going nowhere," he said. "He's confirmed through written questions that he's looking at a two-lane highway, which is merely keeping it as it is.
"Surely, as far as safety upgrades go these things should be happening faster than this."
Brown said Mill Rd already has the traffic volumes of a four-lane highway and coupled with the rapid growth in the likes of Drury and Papakura, the area's roading needs to be upgraded.
"The reality is that most people in south Auckland drive to work and don't have other choices and this decision will not make a single bit of difference to the lives of these people as they try to get around Auckland."
A spokesman for minister Wood refused to answer questions regarding Brown's comments, but in a statement said:
"The government is committed to supporting communities to grow by providing safe and improved travel choices. A business case for the Mill Road project will be provided to ministers for consideration in the coming months."
But Brown's concern is shared by Auckland Manurewa-Papakura ward councillor Daniel Newman.
Newman said even if the Minister of Transport receives the business case for the new safety upgrades to Mill Rd this year, work on the project could be years away.
Auckland Manurewa-Papakura ward councillor Daniel Newman says even if the Minister of Transport receives the business case for the Mill Rd safety improvements this year, work on the project could be years away. Photo: LDR
In December, Newman said he was concerned with the lack of progress on the revised Mill Rd works.
Newman described the government's decision to walk away from the original Mill Rd project in June, which would have seen a four-lane highway running between Manukau and Drury, as a "major disappointment".
But he said existing road safety issues still had to be addressed to cater for the area's growing population.
In response to a written question in parliament this month, Wood said the government had asked Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency and KiwiRail to investigate a new "safety focused two-lane northern section of Mill Road".
He said it would also look at local transport upgrades to support housing in the Drury area.
"I expect to receive a business case for this new scope in the second half of 2022. This will include consideration of the long-term strategic transport network that is needed to support growth."
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