Major transport upgrade for Panmure = guaranteed rise in house prices.

The AMETI project

Last reviewed: 1/03/2012 4:18 p.m.

Media release: 24 February 2012

Auckland Mayor Len Brown marked the start of construction of the Auckland Transport project on the site near Panmure Station this morning with main contractor Fletcher Construction, Auckland Transport and the NZ Transport Agency.

This launches one of Auckland’s biggest transport projects, the long awaited $1.5 billion Auckland Manukau Eastern Transport Initiative (AMETI).

The $180 million first phase is part of a longer term plan to deal with traffic congestion and poor transport options in Auckland’s south east.

The AMETI area, which includes Panmure, Mt Wellington, Pakuranga, Howick and Botany, has some of the highest traffic flows, highest proportions of freight traffic and greatest levels of congestion anywhere in the country. 

The two bridges linking the areas across the Tamaki River carry more than 120,000 vehicles a day (more than State Highway One through Victoria Park) and more freight traffic than any other corridor in the country.

Future AMETI projects include an urban Busway from Panmure Station to Pakuranga and Botany, a second Panmure Bridge for the Busway, replacing Panmure roundabout with an intersection and a flyover on Reeves Rd to reduce congestion through Pakuranga.

Continuing until 2014, AMETI is Auckland Transport’s largest construction project and includes:

• A new bridge built on Ellerslie Panmure Highway for a future busway and the existing bridge replaced. The process for managing traffic while the bridges are built will follow the successful model followed at Newmarket Viaduct, with traffic moved to new bridges as they are built. The bridges will be higher and longer to allow for rail electrification, a new road and a possible future third rail line to pass underneath.

• A 1.5km new road linking Morrin Rd to Mt Wellington Highway and a 220m tunnel for the new road built next to the rail line at Panmure Station. This will be created by building a box with a new road on top for buses and taxis to stop at the station.

• A major upgrade of Panmure Station to create an interchange that allows easy transfers between trains and buses

• Replacing the Mountain Rd bridge and realigning the road, currently being carried out by Downer.

Completing this phase of construction will reduce traffic so work can begin on a new intersection to replace Panmure roundabout and an urban Busway from Panmure Station to Pakuranga and Botany. The AMETI Busway is expected to have 5.5 million passengers a year, compared to the current 2.2 million using the Northern Busway.

Auckland Transport Major Projects Manager Rick Walden says the construction shows major improvements to transport problems are on their way for eastern suburbs residents and businesses. “For example, the new road will take 20,000 vehicles, including 2400 trucks, off the route through Jellicoe Rd, Panmure roundabout and Ellerslie Panmure Highway. It means travelling in peak between Mt Wellington Highway and Glen Innes will be 10 minutes quicker, a much better connection for freight and business traffic.