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First sod turned for Eastern Busway’s final stretch - Pakuranga towards Botany First sod turned for Eastern Busway’s final stretch - Pakuranga towards Botany

Date: 1 April 2023

Today, Minister of Transport / Minister for Auckland Michael Wood joined the Mayor of Auckland Wayne Brown to turn the first sod for stages two, three and four of the Eastern Busway.

This milestone means construction is underway for the significant transport project’s final stretch, from Pakuranga towards Botany.

The project is being delivered by the Eastern Busway Alliance of Fletcher, Acciona, AECOM and Jacobs in partnership with mana whenua, Auckland Transport (AT), Auckland Council and Waka Kotahi.

In December 2021, the Panmure to Pakuranga stage was finished and this next stage - connecting the Pakuranga and Botany town centres - will take about four years to complete.

The project will include new paths for walking and cycling, placemaking, urban renewal initiatives and improvements for general traffic.

Following the success of the Northern Busway on Auckland’s North Shore, the Eastern Busway is expected to carry more than 30,000 people per day between the rapidly growing south-eastern suburbs and the rail network in Panmure.

Auckland Transport’s interim chief executive Mark Lambert says this project is going to deliver great benefits for the community.

“One example of this is that people will be able travel between Botany and Britomart by bus and train in less than about 40 minutes, which is 20 minutes faster than the current journey times.

“As part of our commitment to sustainability, this project will encourage the use of walking, cycling and public transport. The buses that use this infrastructure will be electric - creating a transport future for Auckland this is cleaner, quieter and more comfortable for all.”

Steve Mutton, Director of Regional Relationships for Waka Kotahi, says that together the Government and Council are committed to promoting a range of attractive transport options, offering certainty, and bringing about change in Auckland.

“The announcement made today to advance the Eastern Busway demonstrates our shared commitment to enhancing the transport network in Auckland and delivering the certainty our largest city requires to prosper.”

Dean Kimpton, outgoing project alliance board chair and incoming chief executive of Auckland Transport, says the project is generating hundreds of jobs in the short-term and providing work for thousands of people and dozens of businesses in the supply and construction sector.

“We’re proud that this project is creating better future transport options for Aucklanders, while offering growing employment opportunities for under-represented groups. This is helping to create a thriving construction sector and will allow the eastern communities to flourish now and into the future.”

 

Funding notes for editors:

  • The total Eastern Busway programme funding from Pakuranga to Botany, termed Option1A, is $1.3 billion, to be jointly funded by the Crown, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, and Auckland Council. The availability of funding for the full ‘ultimate’ project (Stages 2, 3 and 4) is yet to be confirmed, and funding options are being explored to enable completion.
  • Funding has been confirmed for Stages 2 and 3 of the busway between Pakuranga and Burswood, and with an on-road connection from Burswood and along Ti Rakau Drive to Botany. This includes the Reeves Road Flyover in Pakuranga.
  • There will be a delay to funding Stage 4 of the busway, which is the link route from Ti Rakau Drive to Botany, and the Botany Town Centre Station. The delay is due to the re-prioritisation of current government funding following the extreme weather events of early 2023.
  • The Eastern Busway Alliance will continue to deliver Stages 2 and 3. It will also prepare consents and community engagement on the link route of Stage 4, so that it can be constructed when funding is confirmed.