Major Manukau roading project opens

A major new direct route between Manukau’s eastern suburbs, East Tamaki and the airport opens tonight.

The $30 million Cavendish Link project saw Cavendish Drive, Liverpool Ave and Nesdale Ave widened and reconstructed to create a four lane arterial road. There are now also cycle lanes on both sides of the road.

The full length of the road is now called Cavendish Drive and a section of Roscommon Rd at the end of Cavendish is being re-named Noel Burnside Drive after the long-serving Papatoetoe councillor.

The project involved constructing a new railway bridge on the main trunk rail line and excavating under the bridge to allow the road to pass under it.

The extended Cavendish Drive links with Te Irirangi Drive, which is already four lanes, and the new Manukau State Highway 20 motorway extension. This will create a direct route from Howick, the eastern suburbs and East Tamaki to Auckland International Airport after completion of the new motorway interchange in 2010.

The combination of the Cavendish Drive extension and the State Highway 20 Manukau motorway extension should have a number of benefits for Manukau’s local roading network. This includes taking traffic off Puhinui Rd, which is mostly residential, and reduction of traffic delays on the existing railway bridge at the Bridge St dog leg in Papatoetoe.

Manukau Mayor Len Brown says the combination of the Cavendish Drive extension and SH20 motorway extension will deliver a number of benefits to Manukau.

"It’s about making Manukau easier to move around, not only for our residents but for businesses as well. Cavendish Drive will become an important arterial link from Botany, Flat Bush and East Tamaki, a major employment hub. The economic spin-offs are many.

"This project is part of our city vision to create and connect efficient road networks that support businesses moving goods and services in the region.

The link is a joint Manukau City Council, Ontrack and New Zealand Transport Agency project with the agency subsidising more than half its cost.

Mr Brown says the joint project reflects what can be achieved when different agencies and organisations work in collaboration.

"We also have the residents and businesses along this route to thank for their cooperation during construction."

Until the new State Highway 20 motorway interchange opens in 2010, traffic using
Cavendish Drive to get to the airport will travel via Noel Burnside Drive (formerly a section of Roscommon Rd) and onto Puhinui Rd.
800 STOP 4 RE D is supported by the Counties
Project features:
Liverpool Ave and Nesdale Ave widened from two to four lanes, renamed Cavendish Drive
Clendon and Onslow turned into cul de sacs
Rail bridge created to allow road underpass under the main trunk rail line
Cycle lanes along both sides of the road
New traffic signals to replace roundabout at Lambie and Cavendish Drive intersection and roundabout at Plunket, Liverpool and Cavendish intersection
Intersection improvements on Cavendish Drive
Link to Cavendish Drive interchange on State Highway 20 motorway project in 2010.