INFRASTRUCTURE * New Zealand - Auckland motorway tunnel too expensive, says trucking industry

The trucking industry and Transit are at odds over how to proceed with one of New Zealand's most expensive roading projects

Wellington,New Zealand -Radio New Zealand -21 Mar 2008: -- ... Last month Transit unveiled plans for a 5km motorway tunnel from the Auckland suburb of Mount Roskill to the western motorway, at an estimated cost of $1.8 billion... The Road Transport Forum wants Transit to look at cheaper options, such as a four-lane motorway, at an estimated cost of $600 million... With such a big saving possible, the Forum thinks the public should be consulted... But Transit says it has consulted the community and local authorites since 2000. It believes the tunnel is the least disruptive in terms of environmental and social impacts on the community... Public submissions close in April, and the project is scheduled to be completed in 2015... (Images from skiescrapercity)