South Auckland's Puhinui train station will be closed for over a year to make way for a new $60 million transport project.
An artist's impression of how the new Puhinui Station Interchange would look. Photo: Auckland Transport / Supplied
The construction of the new Puhinui Station Interchange will start next month and is expected to finish in early 2021.
Auckland Transport said it aimed to open the interchange before the APEC leaders meeting and the America's Cup being held in the city.
During the construction, there will be a new, free Puhinui-to-Papatoetoe loop bus service running every day to provide commuters with train line connections, according to the agency.
The agency's chief executive Shane Ellison said the temporary station closure would be worth the wait.
"We understand any level of disruption is challenging. However, when we re-open the Puhinui Station Interchange in 2021, we'll have an amazing, new and modern facility that will transform and revitalise the area," he said.
"The new station will also allow for easy bus and rail connections from the interchange to the airport, Manukau and Britomart. Travel times to the airport from Puhinui will be only 10 minutes along priority lanes."
Auckland Transport posted a video about the closure:
The project, partly-funded through the Regional Fuel Tax, will be delivered in stages, the first stage was an early improvement of the Airport to Botany Rapid Transit project, according to Auckland Transport.
Auckland mayor Phil Goff welcomed the start of the construction.
"We are accelerating the delivery of a congestion-free public transport network link to the airport."
Auckland Mayor Phil Goff Photo: RNZ / Dan Cook
"While light rail will connect directly to the airport in future, the dedicated busway and 21st century bus-rail interchange will ensure congestion-free public transport to the airport much sooner.
"It will assist commuters, tourists and the growing number of people employed both at the airport and the commercial precinct around it. It is also the first step towards a rapid transit link connecting the airport precinct to Puhinui, Manukau, Tamaki and Botany."