Bridge or tunnel? Auckland’s second harbour crossing decision looms

Auckland's long-running second harbour crossing debate is back in the spotlight. It's a project that politicians love to talk about but have long struggled to deliver - given the complex work, the very high price tag, and the wide range of very heated opinion on what would be best for the City of Sails. NZTA is in the final stages of refining both a tunnel and a bridge option and will seek a decision on which to progress with "in mid-2026". It's after reports show the existing bridge's ongoing maintenance burden – and the possibility of repair work forcing closures. Today on The Front Page, University of Auckland senior lecturer in urban planning, Dr Timothy Welch is with us to unpack the politics, the planning, and the choices ahead. Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network. Host: Chelsea Daniels Editor/Producer: Richard Martin Producer: Jane Yee

You can listen to Bridge or tunnel? Auckland’s second harbour crossing decision looms online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Bridge or tunnel? Auckland’s second harbour crossing decision looms is an episode from The Front Page by NZME.

This episode is 19:29 long.

This episode was published on May 14, 2026.

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