Road freight body Transporting New Zealand has welcomed the start of work to replace several Auckland level crossings with overbridges, but says Takanini may need further investment to keep freight moving.
The Takanini and Glen Innes projects will remove eight level crossings and replace them with three new grade-separated road bridges and three pedestrian bridges. Two crossings in Takanini — Spartan Rd and Manuroa Rd — will be closed completely.
Transporting New Zealand chief executive Dom Kalasih says the upgrades will prepare the network for the City Rail Link and more frequent trains on the Southern Line.
“From 2030 onwards the increased frequency of train services could mean barrier arms at level crossings on the Southern Line are lowered every two to three minutes.
“That would have been a nightmare for commuters and freight customers trying to move goods out of the key Takanini industrial area. Overbridge replacements are the right outcome,” he says.
Kalasih welcomed joint funding by the Government and Auckland Council for the first three years of construction and noted it has been three years since Transporting New Zealand submitted on the Takanini level-crossing closure plans.
But he says replacing eight crossings with three road bridges will require adjustment and is urging Auckland Council to ensure the city’s freight growth is accounted for in planning.
“Takanini is projected to grow by 5,900 dwellings, 12,300 jobs and 13,900 people between 2018 to 2048. Auckland’s freight task (measured by kilometres travelled) is projected to grow around 80% over the same time period.
“This demonstrates the need for additional freight routes, not fewer, to future-proof the network,” Kalasih says.
“Transporting New Zealand has made a request to Auckland Transport for any freight impact and congestion analysis undertaken since the 2023 Takanini level crossing closure detailed business case, and I look forward to reviewing the data.”
Kalasih is also encouraging Auckland Transport to keep affected businesses informed while works are under way.
“This is an important industrial area supporting a huge number of jobs. Transporting New Zealand is always happy to assist with sharing communications and facilitating project updates to local businesses, as we did during the initial level crossing closure consultation.”
