By Phil Taylor

Copyright times

Here’s to the heroes – the Rā Hihi heroes – who have delivered five months earlier than expected east Auckland’s biggest public infrastructure asset in decades.

As ceremonies are held on Friday, September 26, for Rā Hihi, the Reeves Road Flyover, public appreciation must be extended to the constructors who’ve continuously worked night and day for months to get the roadway finished and ready for motorists to drive on.

The giant concrete and metal structure links Pakūranga Road to the South-Eastern Highway and partially opens to westward-bound traffic from next Wednesday, October 1.

The Rā Hihi flyover is one large-scale project in the multimillion-dollar Eastern Busway super-project, and builders, Auckland Transport (AT) and the Eastern Busway Alliance, are keeping guarded about how much the overpass has cost the public purse.

“The project has come in under budget. The final cost figure will be shared at the [opening] event,” Auckland Transport told the Times when asked about the price tag.

Jane Small, AT’s rapid transit infrastructure general manager, says: “AT and our alliance construction partners have had a strong focus on planning and building Rā Hihi as efficiently as possible.

“It has paid off for the Pakūranga community with this early opening.

“We’re delighted to be able to open the citybound lanes of Rā Hihi five months ahead of schedule and below budget, bringing long awaited improvements to east Auckland drivers earlier than expected.

“AT acknowledges the patience that locals have shown during construction,” Small says.

“Although there’s still ongoing work to open lanes in the other direction, they can start to enjoy the flyover’s more direct route.

“The flyover will reduce congestion and enable better public transport options on the busway underneath it.”

The flyover is due to fully open in both directions by the end of October when work on the new intersection with Pakūranga Road has been completed, Small says.

“Rā Hihi is a critical part of the Eastern Busway project that’s connecting east Auckland with rapid public transport to the rest of the city.

“It will reduce congestion around Pakūranga town centre, one of New Zealand’s busiest intersections [South-Eastern Highway and Ti Rakau Drive].

“Major work continues to extend the already open Panmure to Pakuranga busway to Botany.

“When it’s finished in 2027, the Eastern Busway will help people to travel by bus and train between Botany and Britomart in the city centre,” Small says.

“As well as connecting surrounding suburbs with the rail network, it will also make local trips easier by providing more sustainable travel options for walking, biking and using the bus.”

For recent Times stories and photos about the Rā Hihi flyover, read: https://www.times.co.nz/local-business/new-photos-released-of-flyovers-progress/ https://www.times.co.nz/news/motorists-warned-to-expect-more-delays-in-pakuranga/ https://www.times.co.nz/business/exclusive-photos-plot-progress-of-ra-hihi-reeves-road-flyover