This document discusses the need for a second harbour crossing in Auckland to alleviate traffic congestion on the existing Auckland Harbour Bridge and support future growth. Three options for a new crossing are presented - a passenger-only crossing between Esmonde and Britomart, a combined passenger and vehicle crossing between those points, and a third option connecting Esmonde and Britomart to Grafton. The options aim to provide more transport options across the harbour while supporting regional development goals. Further study will refine the options to identify a preferred crossing route.

1. A Second Harbour Crossing
Supporting Info for “The Long
Way Home” AS 2.6

2. Interest Groups

3. Background
• With the clip-on section needing repairs and the
traffic management in place, the Harbour Bridge
is experiencing severe congestion during rush
hours, which will only get worse as North Shore
City grows and Auckland City becomes more
densely settled
• Therefore, there is growing pressure for another
harbour crossing.
• Many have also noted that reliance on a single
crossing (which might experience failure via an
earthquake or other disaster) is not in the
interests of either Auckland or New Zealand

4. So what is being done ?
• A regional study into a route for a potential
additional Waitemata Harbour crossing has
proposed a shortlist of options for further
investigation.
• The shortlist will be considered by the study
partners Auckland City Council, Auckland
Regional Council, Auckland Regional Transport
Authority, North Shore City Council and Transit
New Zealand who are working together
• The next phase of the study aims to narrow the
shortlist to a single, preferred option. This will
enable the region to protect a route while
progressing development plans for the
waterfront.

5. Issues shaping the project
• Supporting planned growth in the region
• Providing more transport options across the harbour for
passenger transport, cycling and walking
• The need to identify and protect a corridor for an
additional crossing, particularly in view of the
development planned for Auckland’s waterfront
• Creating an additional strategic option to the Auckland
Harbour Bridge, which is already carrying more than
160,000 vehicles per day (nearly 60 million vehicles a
year)
• Managing traffic flow between the North Shore and
Auckland
• The need to provide certainty for communities who may
be affected by another crossing.

6. The options are:

7. Option One
• Esmonde to Britomart
• Passenger transport only, in a new tunnel or on
a new bridge between Esmonde and Britomart,
with possible connections at Onewa and
Wynyard.
• General traffic on the existing Auckland Harbour
Bridge
• Walking and cycling on either a new bridge or
the existing Auckland Harbour Bridge (with
appropriate modifications to the existing bridge.)

9. Option Two
• Esmonde to Britomart and SH1
• Passenger transport in either a new tunnel or new bridge
across the harbour, with tunnels to landside connections
between Esmonde and Britomart. Possible connections
at Onewa and Wynyard.
• General traffic in either a new tunnel or new bridge (as
well as on the existing bridge) with tunnels to landside
connections between Esmonde and SH16 at either
Wellington Street (Port and Westbound) or Newton
(Westbound only). Possible connections at Onewa and
Wynyard.
• Walking and cycling on either a new bridge or the
existing Auckland Harbour Bridge (with appropriate
modifications to the existing bridge.)

11. Option Three
• Esmonde to Britomart and Grafton
• Passenger transport in a new tunnel between
Esmonde and Britomart with a possible
connection at Onewa
• General traffic in a new tunnel between
Esmonde and Grafton (as well as on the existing
bridge) with a possible connection at Onewa.
• Walking and cycling on the existing Auckland
Harbour Bridge (with appropriate modifications
to the existing bridge.)

13. Shortlist
• This shortlist was developed from an original list of some
159 options, taken from all the major investigations that
have been carried out since 1997, plus other options
identified by the study partners and suggestions made
by members of the public.
• The study team, including representatives of each
project partner, worked together to evaluate each option
against the objective of delivering integrated, safe,
responsive and sustainable cross harbour travel between
the North Shore and the isthmus to support the planned
growth of the Auckland region. All transport types were
considered including bus, rail, heavy vehicles, cars,
cyclists and pedestrian access.

14. Objectives
• The short listed options, which are now going back to the
partner organisations for consideration, are those that
best met the objectives of:
• Economic development and regional growth in line with
the Regional Growth Strategy
• Connectivity creating connections between transport
networks
• Environmental sustainability and effects on the natural
and built environment
• Social and community connecting communities and
avoiding severance and displacement
• Affordability

15. Issues shaping the project
include:
• Supporting planned growth in the region
• Providing more transport options across the harbour for
passenger transport, cycling and walking
• The need to identify and protect a corridor for an
additional crossing, particularly in view of the
development planned for Auckland 's waterfront
• Creating an additional strategic option to the Auckland
Harbour Bridge , already carrying more than 160,000
vehicles per day (nearly 60 million vehicles a year)
• Managing traffic flow between the North Shore and
Auckland
• The need to provide certainty for communities who may
be affected by another crossing.