[NZ] New Zealand Highways

[KIWIKAAS]

The Johnsonville section was the first.
Auckland's oldest section was from Ellerslie to Mt wellington that opened soon after .
The section between the Harbour Bridge and Fanshawe St was opened in 1959 and widened to 4-4 lanes 10 years after that with the subsequent widening of the Harbour Bridge.

[NZer]

Wow, I never knew the Ellerslie-Mt Wellington section was that old.
So, when did ChCh and Dunedin get their first sections of motorway?

[KIWIKAAS]

I believe the Green Island section in Dunedin was opened in 1970 there abouts.
Christchurch I don't know but I presume around the late 60s

[Kese]

We want to visit New Zealand!!!

[KIWIKAAS]

$2.3 billion toll tunnel tipped for M-way link

(Edited from the NZ Herald)

Details of the country's most expensive transport project by far will be announced by Finance Minister Michael Cullen today.

The Government is poised to reveal plans for a long and deep motorway toll tunnel costing up to $2.3 billion.

But although a bore tunnel stretching 5km beneath Mt Albert in Auckland is Transit NZ's preferred option for completing Auckland's western bypass, the Government is understood to be about to put the project under a steering group of public- and private-sector officials.

Although a bored tunnel would cause less community and environmental disruption than Transit's initial $1.15 billion "cut-and-cover" trenching proposal for the Waterview link, Green MP Keith Locke said his party would oppose any extension of the State Highway 20 motorway if it gained the balance of power in this year's election.

Regardless of whether the Waterview link was tolled, he saw it as an ideal candidate for funding through a public-private partnership.

[ChrisZwolle]

That's 1,2 billion euro's for a 5km long tunnel. Quite expensive alright.

[KIWIKAAS]

This connection / missing link is a bit like the A4 Delfland story (albiet not quite as old)
It started with a simple above ground solution, then changed the route, then proposed a cut and cover solution and now a mega expensive bore tunnel solution.

[KIWIKAAS]

[scotdaliney]

Kiwikaas and Moveax, Some nice right lane hogging in all those pics. Does NZ not have right lane for overtaking only laws?. (seriously I am asking)

[KIWIKAAS]

In general the right lane is for passing. Like in the US we also have signs saying ''Stay Left unless Passing''. On busy multilane motorways the same principle applies but traffic can pass on the left or right. The NZ driving style is probably more similar to that in North America than Europe ie: less lane dicipline

[scotdaliney]

Cheers. I wasn't sure.

[NZer]

Some NZ highway pics I found.

On the way to Mount Cook


Kiwi!


Wellington Traffic


Auckland


Not sure about this one....could be Dunedin?


Deserted Highways and beautiful landscapes.....




Sign south of Auckland on State Highway 1, heading north

[ChrisZwolle]

Those mountain views are simply stunning.

[arriaca]

Thanks NZer

Please, more photos

[NZer]

Sure why not.

[KIWIKAAS]

Morning rush hour Auckland May9

[jarbury]

Here's an aerial photograph taken in 1959 of the Mt Wellington motorway section. I think it went as far south as Wiri, and the Greenlane section was under construction.

[jarbury]

Here's an interesting comparison: 1959 and 2001. You can see how the CMJ has torn the heart out of the city in many ways.

1959:


2001:


Since 2001 there has been further CMJ expansion with more lanes, more links and more general roadway.

[scotdaliney]

edit

[ChrisZwolle]

Originally Posted by jarbury

Here's an interesting comparison: 1959 and 2001. You can see how the CMJ has torn the heart out of the city in many ways.

Nice comparison, sad but necessary, otherwise the entire area would have been choked in traffic 24/7.