New Zealand opens $117m Kirkbride Trench
The New Zealand Government has opened a new NZ$160m ($117m) trench and interchange on State Highway (SH) 20A to enable safer journeys between Auckland Airport and the city.
The Kirkbride Trench project is part of the government’s Auckland Accelerated Programme, which has been created to advance the city’s key transport projects.
New Zealand Transport Minister Simon Bridges said: “The new interchange and trench now provide a motorway standard through this busy intersection, which will reduce congestion and improve traffic flows on both the highway and local roads.
“State Highway 20A is the primary route to Auckland Airport and connects with the Western Ring Route, one of the government’s seven Roads of National Significance.
“The completion of this project supports future population and business growth, caters for increasing travellers, and improves the efficiency of freight around New Zealand’s largest city.”
Expected to provide economic benefits to the local community, the new bridge design and signalised intersections at Richard Pearce Drive and Westney Road enable cyclists and pedestrians to easily and safely cross the highway.
The project also includes a 3km separated, shared path and local cycling and pedestrian connections to improve safety for cyclists.
The Kirkbride Trench will be completely opened to traffic later this month, and the full SH 20A to Airport project is slated for completion by mid-2018.
