NZTA (SH1) Terrace Tunnel approval to commence public engagement, detailed design and construction funding

Applicant

NZ Transport Agency

Purpose

To seek the Investment and Operations Board Committee’s approval for funding the construction of Stage One (preliminary works) of ARTA’s (for Manukau City Council and ARTA) Manukau Transport Interchange in the Auckland region.

Date of decision

18 August 2010

Resolutions

The NZ Transport Agency Board:

  • confirms the preferred option for the Terrace Tunnel Safety Improvements project is the jet fans plus portal egress option plus partial closure for the demolition and construction phase, and notes the residual fire life safety risk associated with the preferred option;
  • approves funding for the further (detailed) design of the NZTA’s Terrace Tunnel safety Improvements project at an estimated cost of $4.3 million; noting that this is within the delegation to the Investment and Operations committee;
    notes that the construction cost for the Terrace Tunnel Safety Improvements projectis estimated at $40 million, the 95th percentile cost is estimated at $50 million and the 5th percentile at $35million;
  • agrees to delegate funding approval to the GM RP&P for the construction of the NZTA’s Terrace Tunnel Safety Improvements project, subject to the Target Outturn Cost being not more than the 95th percentile ($50million;
  • notes that the reasons for its decision are set out in Attachment 1 and that the profile for the activity has been assessed as HMH; and;
  • agrees to take Committee paper 10/08/027 out of committee when the NZTA has published the notice of decision.

Alick Shaw / Christine Caughey

Reason for the decision

  1. The assessment profile for this activity has been determined as being of High strategic fit, Medium effectiveness and High economic efficiency.
  2. The project addresses a risk resulting from fire fighting and ventilation equipment and systems that no longer meet reasonable international best practise. Road users would be exposed to injury or death in the event of a vehicle fuel fire in one of these tunnels. While the probability of such an event is very low, and there would be disruption to the transport system during construction, the consequences could be catastrophic.
  3. The Terrace Tunnel refurbishment project contributes to the NZTA’s Investment and Revenue Strategy, which is intended to give effect to the GPS issued May 2009, and primarily contributes to the safety objectives of the LTMA.
  4. We confirm that the matters in sections 20(2) and 20 (5) of the LTMA have been satisfied, and that the matters in section 20(3) have been taken into account.

If you would like details of how the assessment profile for this activity was determined, please email us at boardsecretariat@nzta.govt.nz.