One more job on the long list of them making up the giant Eastern Busway transport project can be ticked off, with the opening of new bus station infrastructure at Botany Town Centre.
Yesterday, Friday, while rain poured down outside, people associated with delivering the new roadway and bus shelters running into Botany Town Centre sat comfortably in an Auckland Transport bus listening to the blessings and speeches from mana whenua and officials.
Gone are the bricks that formed the cobblestone road of Town Centre Drive between Ti Irirangi Drive and the western side of the BTC mall where the bus stops have always been.
That section of road has been prone to subsidence through sink holes down the years but is now smooth and robust tar seal.
There are new and attractively designed protective rails separating the road lanes and footpaths and bus shelters.
According to Auckland Transport (AT), the “Eastern Busway station opens three years early”.
AT says the building of the bus station and roadway began in August and was fast-tracked in collaboration with Dexus, the BTC owners.
“The project team partners with mana whenua [Ngai Tai ki Tamaki] to ensure that Māori cultural values and perspectives are recognised and integrated into the planning and delivery of each stage of the project.”
AT’s strategic development programmes and property group manager, Jane Small, says the new station “will be a great asset for the community, now and into the future”.
“We’ve rebuilt the footpaths, improved the curbs, upgraded the bus shelters and enhanced the road infrastructure, making sure the station is ready for frequent buses that will carry 18,000 passengers along the Eastern Busway each day between Botany and Panmure Train Station.”
AT says the station will enable buses to use the existing route via Tī Rākau Drive and Te Irirangi Drive to connect with the Eastern Busway in Burswood.
“It will serve as an interim link when the Eastern Busway opens in 2027 until funding is confirmed for stage four of the project.”
On ribbon cutting duties was Transport Minister and MP for Pakūranga, Simeon Brown, along with representatives from the Howick Local Board, AT, BTC, mana whenua, and NZTA Waka Kotahi.
Howick Local Board chair Damian Light says the new BTC bus station is another step towards the completion of the Eastern Busway.
“It’s exciting to see progress continue on this significant and much-needed transport project, which will reduce congestion and unlock more travel options in east Auckland.
“When all four stages of the project have been completed, buses will be able to bypass traffic on 7km of fully separated busway, making public transport a faster and more reliable option.
“Rā Hihi [Reeves Road flyover) will free up cars and freight from Pakūranga Town Centre, and 12km of safe and separated walking and cycling routes will give people easier access to local destinations and public transport options,” Light says.
The Eastern Busway from Pakūranga to Botany is being built by the Eastern Busway Alliance of AT, Fletcher, ACCIONA, AECOM and Jacobs.
