The proposed East-West Link in Auckland has been scrapped by the new government.
When asked if the East-West Link would continue, Prime Minister Ardern said today: "We have a clear view that the current business plan was almost non-existent and not robust".
"We've said we will cancel the current plans as they exist but we acknowledge that there are congestion issues that mean we need to re-look at how we respond to the problems that generated the original west link plans."
The motorway would have connected State Highway 1 in Sylvia Park to Onehunga at a cost of around $327 million per kilometre, and would have stretched 5.5km, according to Infrastructure NZ.
Auckland Mayor Phil Goff, who emerged from his first official meeting with the Prime Minister Ardern today, said the addition of "800 cars" a week to Auckland roads was "absolutely unsustainable".
"It is very clear that Auckland has to have a mass transit system. What we're doing in rail is really good, it'll make a big difference, but we need to have light rail."
"This will be a way we can combat the growing congestion and gridlock in Auckland.
"Light rail is not an outdated technology," he said in reference to the plan to introduce trams.
Ms Ardern said the regional fuel tax was a way Aucklanders could have some "skin in the game" in contributing to their transport infrastructure roll-out.
Mr Goff said the fuel tax would be on average an additional $2.60 a week for drivers, compared to increasing rates which would be a "totally unsustainable" 15 per cent.
SHARE ME