Waterview Tunnel Review

[Voltaire]

After years of eager anticipation today was the day us Aucklanders had dreamed off whilst sitting in traffic for hours and hours

each week.

Having read the thread on Go Pros I decided not to tape my Iphone onto my helmet as it would end up causing an accident.

After filling up at the new mini Z station in Onehunga, joined SH 20 and headed West. I spotted a bright yellow helmet in my

mirror gaining on me in the next lane and then gone....we almost cop had pulled up alongside me and then pulled away with a

cheerful wave.

He pulled into the same lane so I met his speed for a Police escort. Amusing to see cars er cagers passing then see

the cop in front of me and hit the brakes.

Passed what was previously the end of the motorway with a rising sense of anticipation then suddenly the tunnel appeared in

its 3 lane glory ready to whisk us as if by magic to Point Chev.

The brightly lit tunnel with its 80 KPH led signs and do not change lane signs, air circulation fans captivated the traffic as

passengers videoed this momentous occasion for the likes of Facebook or even Instagram.

Sadly it was all over too soon and we were delivered to the NW motorway where Westy driving was restored to normal

random lane changing and last minute 3 lane off ramp exits.

200 KMs of back road riding later returned to the tunnel for the return trip.

The off ramp swept around to the tunnel entrance where I stopped in the queue to the tunnel....WTF...Sunday afternoon and

queue.... 1st gear for half the way, got to read some of the writing on the wall... forget what it said but sort of conjured up

images of flooding and Bruce Willis movies.

The other end had queues as well and the first off ramp was chocca....probably people doing the return trip.

Thanks NZ for helping us Jaffas to have a better quality of life.

[oldrider]

Sorry! - Auckland speak - still not sure whether it's good bad or indifferent?

[Swoop]

Don't forget to smile for the taxation cameras at BOTH ends of BOTH tunnels.


Also: full of retarded cunts who have no idea about keeping left unless passing.

[AllanB]

Sorry! - Auckland speak - still not sure whether it's good bad or indifferent?

I got the impression it was less time queuing in traffic to go through the tunnel that is designed to speed up traffic.

So that's a positive in Jaffaland I guess.

So - buying a ex Auckland vehicle may be a bad thing - hours and hours idling and crawling along.

[Honest Andy]

yeah that writing on the wall: what is a "DELUGE POINT"?

[Motu]

12 or 13 years ago when I lived in Henderson and worked in Mt Roskill, it took me 45 minutes to do the 17km commute. It'd be interesting to compare times now...probably take a full hour with the new direct route.

[slofox]

and do not change lane signs,

Hmmmm..."do not change lanes" signs seem to be ignored by many in that little tunnel heading north onto the harbour bridge. How long before waterview goes the same way. (ever the optimist, me)

[Voltaire]

Clear run from Highbrook to Penrose at 4:00 PM ....unusual to say the least.

A lot less cross town traffic around Onehunga.

Google maps show the tunnel as green/yellow.

[caseye]

Been through it twice today, heading for the shore from Wiri, took less time to go there, around Hobby and Glenfield and over to Devo than it would normally simply getting on the northern at Manukau, much smoother, flowing traffic, seems everyones already sorted out the best way for them and theres enough road again.
Hope it keeps improving.

[russd7]

nup, still took me the same length of time to travel to work and the same length of time to come home too

[FJRider]

nup, still took me the same length of time to travel to work and the same length of time to come home too

Same here ... bloody waste of money I reckon ...

[Moise]

Used it this evening after the peak. Much quicker than my usual route.

Not impressed at the exhaust fumes though - it looked like the fans were going very slow.

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[Berries]

nup, still took me the same length of time to travel to work and the same length of time to come home too

Fucking A. And I never even saw the bastard tunnel. The whole thing sounds like a rip off.

[caspernz]

yeah that writing on the wall: what is a "DELUGE POINT"?

A sprinkler on steroids is one description...

[Voltaire]

A sprinkler on steroids is one description...

Oh....nothing to do with flooding after all

5 deluge storage tanks each containing 250m3 of water for fire control. Each deluge set will supply 10mm of water per second inside each of the 173 zones of the tunnel. Each zone is located every 30 metres in the tunnels.