Waka Kotahi has been called on to review its closure policy and risk profiles for managing Auckland's Harbour Bridge as yet another day of productivity is lost to Auckland's economy.
EMA Head of Advocacy, Strategy and Finance, Alan McDonald, said that what has been seen is almost scaremongering behaviour from NZTA.
Worried North Shore residents either stay home or leave work early because the New Zealand Transport Agency might close or reduce access to the Harbour Bridge," said McDonald.
"The current policy looks like a knee-jerk overreaction to the one serious damage accident we've had in 70 years of bridge operation.
McDonald said that people are streaming home to the North Shore after NZTA continually warned of strong winds that have failed to eventuate. He added that commuters go home not because of the weather but because they are worried about being stranded or heavily delayed by the over-cautious approach to bridge management. McDonald also pointed out that accepting closures because of weather conditions was given in extreme weather, and more extreme weather events were expected.
"We also know NZTA has lowered its risk thresholds for weather-related closures, and it increasingly appears that those thresholds are simply too low. Those thresholds need to be revisited."
McDonald recognised that businesses in the central city and workplaces around the greater Auckland region couldn't keep putting up with disruptions to their workforces and businesses on the off-chance the bridge might close. Those closures also create further delays for critical freight moving to and from Northland and through the Auckland region from other major centres.
