Six Pohutukawa trees will need to be removed and replaced under the current proposal for an additional left hand turn onto St Lukes Road bridge to handle predicted traffic changes when the Waterview tunnels open in early 2017.
Submissions on improvements at the St Lukes Road Bridge, as part of the SH16 St Lukes to Great North Road Interchanges upgrade, close Thursday, 3 July. People can make submissions online on the Auckland Council website .
“We want to assure people that our proposal includes replacement of the trees with six semi-mature Pohutakawa that will be 6-8 metres tall when they are planted,” says NZTA highways manager Steve Mutton.
“We acknowledge, however, that the community does have concerns about the removal and replacement of the trees at the St Lukes interchange. This is why we’ve asked for the consent to remove and replace them be publically notified.
“We want to ensure that community views are included as part of the decision making process,” says Mutton.
NZTA is currently widening the Northwestern Motorway (SH16) from three to four lanes in each direction, and improving the St Lukes motorway ramps.
As part of the project, Auckland Transport is funding improvements to the St Lukes Road-Great North Road intersection, and widening the St Lukes Road over-bridge to benefit drivers, walkers and cyclists.
